Novak Djokovic’s illustrious career has seen him capture Grand Slam singles titles in various styles, making it increasingly challenging to chronicle his achievements accurately.
On Sunday, the Serbian maestro underscored his status as the preeminent player of the modern era, delivering a clinical straight-sets victory over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. Effortlessly gliding across the court and wielding his racket with a grace that belies his age, Djokovic showcased his artistry, capitalizing on Medvedev’s sluggish start, enduring a monumental second set, and dismantling his opponent 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Djokovic’s conquest unfolded on the hallowed grounds of Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he often played the role of the antagonist in matches against underdogs or beloved crowd favorites like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. However, Sunday marked a stark departure from that narrative. Nearly 24,000 spectators greeted him with thunderous applause, reserving their most fervent cheers for the moment Medvedev erred, sealing Djokovic’s triumph in an event that had surprisingly eluded the sport’s preeminent hardcourt virtuoso.
“This means the world to me,” Djokovic acknowledged before hoisting the trophy, a ritual he has now performed four times in his storied career.
The genesis of Djokovic’s transformation from foil to protagonist commenced two years ago, during a markedly different final against the same adversary. On that occasion, Djokovic strode onto the court aiming to accomplish an extraordinary feat that hadn’t been achieved in over half a century – securing all four Grand Slam titles in a calendar year.
However, that day witnessed Medvedev masterminding a straight-set upset, a moment when Djokovic seemed uncharacteristically subdued. Yet, the stadium, teeming with spectators eager to witness history, enveloped Djokovic in an unprecedented wave of affection. Overwhelmed by the crowd’s adoration, he was moved to tears, a poignant prelude to the final game.
Djokovic’s absence from the U.S. Open last year, owing to the federal government’s stringent Covid-19 vaccination policies for foreign visitors, marked an interlude in his enduring love affair with American tennis. He stepped on U.S. soil for the first time in nearly two years in mid-August, participating in the Western & Southern Open near Cincinnati. It became evident swiftly that the warmth he felt during the 2021 U.S. Open final had not dissipated.
Djokovic leaned heavily on this unwavering support on Sunday, particularly when, appearing to cruise through the second set, Medvedev rediscovered his form. Following a series of errors, the Russian athlete, possessing arms like an octopus and the agility of a gazelle, rectified his game, bolstered his serve, and harnessed his uncanny ability to emulate a human backboard. This remarkable turnaround, characterized by protracted rallies, led to Djokovic’s physical fatigue. He leaned on his racket between points, gasping for air, even resorting to cooling his head with an ice pack during breaks.
“I was losing air on so many occasions,” Djokovic confessed. “I don’t recall ever being so exhausted after rallies.”
Serving to stay in the second set at 5-6, Djokovic summoned his last reserves of energy, scrambling to save set points with two deft volleys.
Medvedev, meanwhile, asserted, “I was all over him.”
The match hurtled into a decisive tiebreaker, a microcosm of the rollercoaster contest. Medvedev inched tantalizingly close to drawing level, winning an excruciatingly long drop shot exchange. However, Djokovic, as he has done countless times before, strung together three consecutive error-free points.
When Medvedev netted a backhand, concluding a 104-minute odyssey within the set, Djokovic secured a two-set advantage – a position he has relinquished only once in his career, a staggering 13 years ago, prior to his ascension to near invincibility.
With the second set behind him, Djokovic, drenched in sweat, sauntered to his chair, grabbing his bag before exiting the court for a brief respite. Medvedev, now shirtless, summoned a trainer for a shoulder massage. After the relentless physical exertion of the preceding 90 minutes, Medvedev yearned not for a mere massage but a reprieve for his beleaguered psyche.
Upon returning to the court, Djokovic exhibited a renewed buoyancy, the prospect of clinching another championship and setting a new record propelling him with newfound vigor. He charged towards the net, exploiting his opponent’s tendency to linger deep in the court, as if poised to strike the back wall with each backswing. Djokovic’s return to American soil would not be marred this time.
In the present era, every tournament Djokovic enters seemingly engenders a new men’s tennis record, often surpassing his own. In Melbourne earlier this year, he claimed an unprecedented 10th Australian Open title. On Sunday, he ascended to his 24th Grand Slam singles title, surpassing his own record of 23 established at the French Open in June.
A few days ago, Djokovic participated in his record 47th Grand Slam semifinal, eclipsing Roger Federer’s mark. Three weeks prior, he secured his 39th title at a Masters 1000 tournament, an event nestled just beneath the Grand Slams in prestige. Sunday marked his 36th appearance in a Grand Slam final.
Djokovic’s performance at the U.S. Open ensured that even before stepping onto the court for the final match, he would awaken on Monday morning as the world’s No. 1 player, reclaiming the pinnacle from Carlos Alcaraz, the 20-year-old Spanish prodigy. This achievement will signify Djokovic’s 390th week as the sport’s premier player, a record he already held.
“Why are you still here?” Medvedev, aged 27, quipped to Djokovic, 36, who has persistently thwarted his championship aspirations since ascending to tennis’s upper echelons six years ago.
As Djokovic toweled off in a corner of the court, preparing to serve for match point, he glanced at the fans in the front rows and nodded appreciatively, his eyes wide with emotion. Moments later, he knelt on the court, shoulders trembling, tears flowing once more. Upon rising, he approached the stands, lifting his six-year-old daughter, Tara – a spectator not known for her tennis enthusiasm, often occupying herself with coloring books on stadium floors during her father’s matches.
