US Open champion Djokovic: match summary

Serbian Novak Djokovic He beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open on Sunday, winning his 24th Grand Slam title and equaling Margaret Court’s absolute tennis record.

Djokovic He beat Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) and 6-3 amidst the joy of the center court in Flushing Meadows, New York, where two years earlier he had cried inconsolably over a traumatic defeat precisely against Medvedev.

This Sunday, the Serbian’s tears were of happiness when he knelt on the court to certify his fourth victory in this Grand Slam.

At 36 years old, the giant from Belgrade crowns an amazing season in which he has won three Grand Slam titles and left behind the Spanish Rafael Nadal in the men’s tennis career, who remains with 22.

After a failed first attempt in the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic He reached his long-awaited number 24 with a display of courage against the dangerous Medvedev.

The Russian, who eliminated Alcaraz in the semifinals, ruining the most predicted final, this time failed to come between Djokovic and the glory.

In 2021, Medvedev had avoided in this same scenario that Djokovic completed a full Grand Slam trophies in the same year, a feat that no one has achieved in half a century.

Overcome on that occasion by pressure and emotions, the Serbian appeared this time completely focused on his rival and overcame all adversities, especially in an eternal second set of one hour and 45 minutes.

With the Serb visibly fatigued and apparent physical discomfort, Medvedev had his big opportunity first with a wasted set point and then went ahead 4-5 in the tiebreak.

Djokovic He gained strength to score three points in a row and take an already decisive lead, against a Medvedev with no desire to make a comeback.

In the Grand Slam where he has experienced the most misfortunes, from which he was absent last year for refusing the coronavirus vaccine, Djokovic She celebrated in grand fashion the breaking of the 23-title tie she held with Serena Williams and hunted at the top of the Australian Margaret Court, who retired in 1977.

In men’s tennis, Nadal, with 22 trophies, and the now retired Roger Federer (20), the other members of the ‘Big 3’, are far behind.

– Stars in the stands –

Sunday’s final started for Djokovic diametrically opposite to that of 2021.

If that day the bad signs started with him losing serve in the first game, this Sunday he broke Medvedev at first and blank to go ahead 3-0.

The Russian, after the initial nerves, tried to get stronger at the back of the court and place the wall that Alcaraz could not knock down in the semifinals.

The match thus entered a phase of eternal exchanges without any of these masters of the defensive game daring to try their luck on the net.

Djokovic He remained patient and defended his serve without allowing any break balls until he bagged a first set that foreshadowed the outcome in his favor.

Although his face remained imperturbable, Medvedev did not have the sharp serve as in the duel against Alcaraz nor the forcefulness to resolve key points.

suddenly it is Djokovic who shows a crack of vulnerability in his armor. ‘Nole’ became unbalanced in several points, protested to the judge and fell exhausted after losing another exhausting fight of up to 31 strokes.

The frenetic bombings re-engage the stands, where music stars like Sting and Justin Timberlake, models like Emily Ratajkowski and actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey shine, sitting in the row above the parents of Djokovic and whom the Serbian hugged after the victory.

– Lost opportunities –

Under cover of the threat of rain, the 23,000 fans at the largest track in the world debated between supporting the Russian to extend the show or the Serbian to contemplate, this time, a decisive piece of his extraordinary history.

Meanwhile, Medvedev saves a breakout opportunity Djokovic that would have left him on the edge and accelerates until he has his best opportunity with a set point.

Djokovicwho needs to stretch, resists and forces the ‘tiebreak’, in which he comes back twice to decide the endless set in his favor.

For Medvedev, who requested medical attention and massages at half-time, the final was difficult and the public was celebrating every step of Djokovic towards the title and the summit of tennis.