The U.S. Open Men’s Singles We Only Half Expected: Djokovic vs. Medvedev

From the day the lads’s singles draw got here out, the trail for Novak Djokovic to achieve one more U.S. Open ultimate appeared clear, and appeared to arrange for a showdown with Carlos Alcaraz, which might have been a rematch of this yr’s Wimbledon ultimate.

This U.S. Open males’s ultimate will get a rematch — simply not between Djokovic and Alcaraz. Daniil Medvedev of Russia, after defeating Alcaraz on Friday evening in 4 units, will play Djokovic on Sunday afternoon for the championship.

It might be a rematch of the 2021 U.S. Open ultimate, which Medvedev received, stopping Djokovic from finishing a calendar Grand Slam that yr.

Here’s what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the match on Sunday:

Djokovic and Medvedev took completely different paths to the ultimate.

On paper, it could appear that Djokovic has battered his means by means of to the championship match. He received 5 of his six matches in straight units. But he has confronted some formidable opposition alongside the best way. In the third spherical, Djokovic bumped into bother when he dropped the primary two units to Laslo Djere, a fellow Serbian. But Djokovic was in a position to will his means again to win, wrapping up at round 1:30 a.m.

In the quarterfinals, Djokovic confronted Taylor Fritz, the very best ranked American man, and within the semifinals, he took on Ben Shelton, a rising younger American.

The street to the ultimate has been barely bumpier for Medvedev than Djokovic. Two of Medvedev’s matches had been pushed to 4 units, within the second spherical in opposition to Christopher O’Connell and once more within the fourth spherical in opposition to Alex de Minaur.

Medvedev’s’ hardest opposition got here within the semifinals on Friday, when he performed Alcaraz. After the primary set went to a tiebreaker, it appeared like followers had been about to settle in for a protracted evening. But Medvedev dominantly took the second set, 6-1. Alcaraz received the third however couldn’t acquire extra traction than that, sending Medvedev to the ultimate.

Medvedev performed spoiler in 2021.

Medvedev and Djokovic have been in a U.S. Open ultimate earlier than. Two years in the past, Djokovic was trying to full the calendar Grand Slam, having received the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon multi function yr (he additionally competed within the Tokyo Olympics that yr, however didn’t medal and thus misplaced his likelihood for a Golden Slam).

All Djokovic wanted to finish the Grand Slam was win the U.S. Open.

But Medvedev spoiled the occasion. Medvedev went on to win the 2021 U.S. Open ultimate in straight units, protecting Djokovic from finishing the calendar slam.

The match was weird at instances, and in it, Djokovic displayed feelings followers aren’t used to seeing. At one level within the third set, Djokovic coated his face with a towel after which appeared to start crying and shaking, an indication of how a lot finishing the calendar slam meant to him.

Medvedev stated on Friday that Djokovic finds methods to enhance after losses, making this yr’s ultimate tougher.

“When he loses, he’s never the same after,” Medvedev stated, referring to the 2021 ultimate. “He’s going to be 10 times better than he was that day, and I have to be, if I want to still beat him, 10 times better than I was that day.”

Djokovic leads their head-to-head.

Djokovic and Medvedev have performed one another 14 instances, and Djokovic has had the benefit with 9 wins. Their most up-to-date matchup was in March at a event in Dubai, which Medvedev received, 6-4, 6-4.

While Medvedev was in a position to spoil Djokovic’s shot on the Grand Slam in 2021, Medvedev acknowledged on Friday evening that taking part in Djokovic received’t be straightforward.

“Novak is going to be his best version on Sunday,” Medvedev stated. “And I have to be the best-ever version of myself if I want to try to beat him.”

Djokovic is in search of No. 24.

Anytime Djokovic performs in a Grand Slam ultimate, there’s the potential for historical past to unfold. With 23 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has surpassed Rafael Nadal, who has 22, and Roger Federer, with 20.

With Federer now retired and Nadal away from the sport due to an damage, Djokovic has the possibility to distance himself from his counterparts within the Big Three of males’s tennis. But Djokovic stated on Friday evening that he has tried to not focus an excessive amount of on the numbers.

“I’m aware of it, and of course I’m very proud of it,” he stated. “But again, I don’t have much time nor do I allow myself to reflect on these things.”

Djokovic recalled an identical historic weight when he misplaced the 2021 U.S. Open ultimate, and stated he doesn’t need that to occur once more.

“I’ll try to just focus on what needs to be done and tactically prepare myself for that match,” he stated.

Keep an eye fixed on Medvedev’s return place.

Those who’ve been extra targeted this event on gamers like Frances Tiafoe, Carlos Alcaraz, and Ben Shelton, might have one huge query on their minds after they watch Medvedev play: Why does he stand to this point again from the baseline to return serves?

It may appear to be a drawback to Medvedev, however he makes use of the place in his favor. By standing so distant from the baseline, generally as much as 20 toes, Medvedev offers himself extra time to return the serve. He additionally makes use of the tactic as a software to strengthen his positioning through the level itself; by beginning far behind the baseline, he all however ensures that he’ll transfer ahead as the purpose develops.

The technique, in fact, has its cons. By standing to this point again and taking extra time, Medvedev leaves extra courtroom house open and offers his opponents extra time to get into an advantageous place for his or her subsequent stroke after the serve.