Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on Sunday to win his fourth US Open and a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, avenging his loss to the Russian in the final two years ago. The 36-year-old Djokovic won 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to become New York’s oldest men’s champion in the Open era and equal Margaret Court’s record for most Grand Slam wins. victories . The Serbian has become the first man to win three Grand Slam events in the same season four times, capping his impending return to world number one in the most fitting way at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Medvedev defeated Djokovic in straight sets in the 2021 final to prevent the Serb from becoming the first man to win all four Grand Slams in the same year since Rod Laver in 1969.
Djokovic admitted he felt overwhelmed on that occasion but there were few nerves as he quickly took control of Sunday’s championship match.
The second seed burst out of the gate with a confident attitude, sealed by successive aces, and struck at the first opportunity, punishing Medvedev for a double fault and taking a 2-0 lead.
A third ace consolidated his lead before Medvedev got on the board in the fourth game.
The pair traded largely trouble-free until Djokovic put pressure on Medvedev again as the third seed trailed 2-5.
Medvedev dug in to avoid set points twice, but Djokovic eased the set until his set in the next game.
Medvedev dethroned last year’s champion Carlos Alcaraz with a “12 out of 10” performance in the semi-finals, but struggled to replicate his very best consistently against an imperious Djokovic.
In a bid to become the first player to defeat the top two seeds en route to the title since 1975, Medvedev again found himself repeatedly under the pump early in the second set.
He was able to resist and hit a stunning volley to fight the break point as he secured a brave lead at 4-3 before finally asking questions of Djokovic.
A leapfrogging lead gave Medvedev his first break chance of the match the next game, but Djokovic responded with a brilliant scoop on the half volley to save it.
Djokovic faltered at 5-6 and double-faulted twice as Medvedev advanced the set point. But Djokovic waited as Medvedev crossed the court and put the volley away to force a tiebreak.
Medvedev appeared to have momentum on his side after winning an astonishing rally to take the lead 5-4, before Djokovic bagged the next three points to take a marathon 104-minute second set and seal a historic victory approached.
Djokovic sportingly offered to help Medvedev up after the Russian took a difficult fall early in the third set, but that good will was not there when two break points arose shortly afterwards.
Medvedev pumped a backhand long to give Djokovic a 3-1 lead. He immediately gave the break back but Medvedev faltered again and there was no mistake a second time as Djokovic took the title before the emotions started to flow.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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