Novak Djokovic dominated the US Open and has his 24th Grand Slam title

Just like the year before, Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev faced off in the US Open final. In 2021 in Flushing Meadows, the Russian won his only Grand Slam title, but this time the star Serbian returned the favour with a 0:3 defeat in a duel lasting three and a quarter hours. He added trophy number 24 to his collection of victories at the Major.

On his way to the final round, Medvedev successively knocked out Hungary’s Attila Balázs, Australia’s Christopher O’Connell, Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, another Australian player Alex de Minaur, compatriot Andrey Rublyov and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

The 20-year-old Spaniard will be replaced as world number one by Djokovic on Monday. In New York, one of the best tennis players in history passed Alexander Muller of France, Bernabé Zapata Miralles of Spain, Laslo Djere of Serbia, Borna Goja of Croatia and two local hopefuls – Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.

The Belgrade native took his opponent’s serve early in the final match and held the lead until the end of the set. Thanks to the third set point he won 6:3.

The second set offered a more balanced spectacle that lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Both players held their serves, although Djokovic showed fatigue at times and stretched himself. Still, there were many long and handsome exchanges to be seen in the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The set culminated in a tiebreak, which is the Serb’s forte. The record holder for the most Grand Slam trophies confirmed this by dominating the shortened game 7:5. He was one step away from his 24th Grand Slam title.

And he didn’t let the drama get to him. The key break in the third game was 3:2. Novak Djokovic calmly finished the match, capitalized on the first match point and at 36 years of age once again confirmed that he is one of the greatest legends of the white sport.

So he made his return to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre after an enforced absence due to missing the vaccination against covid-19 disease as best he could. He captured the last major of the season for the fourth time in his career.

The reward for yet another in his long line of successes is not only the aforementioned move to the top of the ATP rankings. As the winner of the singles at the US Open, he is entitled to a reward of three million dollars.

Daniil Medvedev has to make do with half that amount. In the singles rankings, the 27-year-old tennis player remains in third place.

Source: ATP, Eurosport