Novak Djokovik emerged from a thrilling and exhausting US Open final with a 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday night, using every ounce of his energy and some serve-and-volley guides to defeat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5) , defeated by 6. -3 in a match in which the match was closer than the straight set score indicated.
Djokovic, 36, of Serbia, won a major singles title over Serena Williams and became the first player to win 24 in the Open era that began in 1968. Margaret Court also scored a total of 24, but 13 of these came before professionals were admitted to Slam events.
Particularly in the 1-hour, 44-minute second set, which was as much about talent as it was tenacity, there were moments when Djokovic appeared to falter. After some of the most difficult points – and there were many – he would crouch with his hands on his knees or use his racket for support or stop to stretch his legs.
The victory against Medvedev, an opponent he defeated in the 2021 final at Flushing Meadows to cap a bid for a first calendar-year Grand Slam in more than half a century, made Djokovic the oldest men’s champion at the US Open Gave. Era.
This is Djokovic’s fourth championship in New York, where he was unable to compete a year ago because he was unable to Vaccinated against COVID-19, with his 10 trophies from the Australian Open, seven from Wimbledon and three from the French Open, has extended his lead on the men’s Slam list. Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since January with a hip problem that required surgery, is next with 22; Roger Federer, who had announced his retirement a year earlier, finished with 20.
Performing as well as ever, Djokovic went 27–1 at the sport’s most prestigious events this season: the only blemish was a loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July. Djokovic will rise to No. 1 in the rankings on Monday, overtaking Alcaraz, who was the defending champion at Flushing Meadows but was ousted by No. 3 Medvedev.
Early Sunday, with the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium closed due to rain forecast, Djokovic was as comfortable as possible. There was no sign that the occasion was having any effect on him, nor any trace of the tension which he admitted had arisen briefly in the semi-final against unseeded American Ben Shelton.