Daniil Medvedev on Sunday defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win the men’s singles title of this year’s US Open. This is the Russian player’s first-ever Grand Slam title.
Daniil Medvedev beat Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, ending the Serbian player’s dream of achieving Calendar Slam. Djokovic was aiming to become only the third tennis player in the Open era history to win all four Grand Slam titles in a single calendar year.
Djokovic will now have to wait till the Australian Open next year to try and win his 21st career Grand Slam.
This was Medvedev’s third Grand Slam final with the 25-year-old Russian losing the 2019 final at Flushing Meadows to Rafael Nadal.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash was quoted by the BBC, “We think he’s superhuman but it was a very, very human Novak Djokovic tonight – he didn’t have his feet moving, he didn’t have the energy.
“Credit to Medvedev who came out there blasting his serve in the first set but the opportunity to turn it around was there in the second set – two games in a row Novak had break points, big opportunities to do it, and he couldn’t do it.”
Speaking after the match, Djokovic thanked the fans for the support as he said that he was the ‘happiest man alive’ because how the crowd made him ‘feel very special on the court.’
He said, “I have never felt like this in New York.”
The Serbian tennis legend said that Medvedev deserved to win the title. “Thank you so much, guys. I would like to start off by saying congratulations to Daniil. Amazing match, amazing tournament. If there is anyone that deserves a Grand Slam title right now it is you, so well done,” he said.
Medvedev, for his part, apologised to Djokovic for defeating him and preventing him from winning the Calendar Slam, adding that the Serbian, in his opinion, was the greatest player of all time.
“First of all, sorry for you the fans and Novak. We all know what he was going for today. What you have achieved this year and throughout your career, for me, I have never said this before, you are the greatest tennis player in history,” the Russian champion said.
On Saturday, Britain’s Emma Raducanu had created history to become the first qualifier ever to win the US Open after she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in straight sets.
