World no.2 Daniil Medvedev defeated Novak Djokovic in the US Open final convincingly by 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to win his first major title and thus ended Serbian quest of winning the Calendar slam after Rod Laver did so back in 1969.
Medvedev made his intentions clear from the opening game of the match as he broke Djokovic’s serve. The Russian came up with mind-blowing service as was finishing his serve games within one minutes whereas Djokovic had to fight for every point. Medvedev won 80% of his first serve points.
Medvedev easily rampant through the first set by 6-4 but showed shades of nervousness in the beginning of the second set. However, Djokovic failed to capitalise as he could not convert his break in the fourth game of the second set. Medvedev once again broke Djokovic’s serve and bagged the second set easily.
The Russian then got a double break in the third set and he was serving for the Championship at 5-2. The 25-year old also had a championship point on his serve but hooting from the New York crowd put him off guard as he made two double faults and could not hold his serve. However, Medvedev was able to hold his serve as well as his nerves in the next service game as he closed out the game in the third set.
“You never know if you’re going to achieve [winning a major] in your career. I was always saying if I don’t, I just want to know that I did my best to do it,” Medvedev said. “[I feel] a lot of happiness. That’s my first Grand Slam. I don’t know how I’m going to feel if I win a second one or third one. That’s my first one, so I’m really happy. Means a lot to me.”
Medvedev apologised to the crowd for spoiling the party for Djokovic but also heaped praise on the Serbian, who had a stellar run in 2021 as he won three slam titles.
“First of all I want to say sorry for you fans and Novak. We all know what he was going for today,” Medvedev said during the trophy ceremony. “I’ve never said this anybody, but I will say it right now. For me, you are the greatest tennis player in history.”
“It was definitely tough. [I] cannot say [it any] other way. I knew that the only thing I can do is focus,” Medvedev said. “[You] never know what would happen if it would be 5-All, if I would start to get crazy or whatever. It didn’t happen, so again we cannot talk about it. I knew I have to focus on myself, on what I had to do to win the match.”
