Daniil Medvedev has joined the Grand Slam winners’ circle after stunning Novak Djokovic within the US Open remaining together with his victory denying the world No 1 not solely a Calendar Grand Slam, but additionally the possibility to assert the outright document for many majors received by a male participant.
Having already received the Australian Open – the place he beat Medvedev within the remaining – the French Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic began the ultimate at Arthur Ashe Stadium because the overwhelming favorite.
The world No 1 additionally had the additional incentives of the historic Calendar Grand Slam and a twenty first main, which might have seen him transfer previous his nice rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
However Medvedev produced one of many calmest shows ever within the remaining of the most important and, along with an erratic show from the Serbian, he brushed apart the highest seed 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes.
A merely beautiful efficiency from @DaniilMedwed pic.twitter.com/0sF1r2CiNg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
Djokovic made a nervous, error strewn begin as he was damaged within the first sport of the match with Medvedev profitable the longer rallies. After holding, the Russian had an opportunity to go 3-0 up as he had a few break factors, however this time the world No 1 managed to dig himself out of a gap.
Medvedev’s personal service video games had been speedy and clear as he held for six consecutive video games to win the 36-minute set, which meant for the fifth match in a row Djokovic dropped the opening set.
No. 2 @DaniilMedwed wins 1st set vs No. 1 @DjokerNole 6-4 in #USOpen remaining.
Djokovic is 10-0 at Grand Slams in 2021 after dropping 1st set, together with 4 straight wins at @USOpen.
He bids to turn out to be 1st man in historical past to lose 5 1st units en path to Grand Slam title (since 1877).
— ATP Media Information (@ATPMediaInfo) September 12, 2021
Djokovic made a stronger begin to the second set as received the opener to like after which discovered himself 0-40 on the Medvedev serve, however he squandered a few break factors and earlier than he knew it it was 1-1.
He once more struggled to search out any rhythm in sport three as he was as soon as once more compelled to work to carry serve earlier than eking out a number of break factors on the Medvedev serve. Nevertheless, he didn’t convert and obliterated his racket – which resulted in a code violation warning – earlier than the Russian drew degree.
Djokovic simply demolished his racket #USOpen pic.twitter.com/dkKLLAG8dS
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) September 12, 2021
The frustrations received to him as he dropped serve within the subsequent sport and, with Medvedev persevering with to be spectacular on his serve, it was one other 6-4 set within the bag for the Russian.
Djokovic, who has spent 17 hours and 26 minutes on courtroom on the US Open in comparison with Medvedev’s 11 hours and 51 minutes, knew he needed to go the gap once more, however he did win the French Open remaining after coming from two units to like down in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
However Medvedev was relentless as he tightened the screws additional by coming from 30-0 down within the first sport to begin the third set with a break.
There was some combat from Djokovic in sport two, however the Russian backed up the break by holding after which received an insurance coverage coverage as he broke once more to take an astonishing 3-0 lead, which quickly became 4-0.
The world No 1 lastly received on the scoreboard with a service maintain, however there didn’t look like any combat left within the Serbian. Medvedev, who misplaced the 2019 US Open remaining in opposition to Rafael Nadal, then produced a stable service sport earlier than Djokovic made it 5-2.
And so the Russian got here out to serve for the match, however there was a bit of additional drama because the Russian made a few double faults – together with one on match level – with Djokovic occurring to interrupt for the primary time within the match earlier than holding to make it 5-4.
There was a fist pump and a smile from Djokovic earlier than sitting down and crying in his towel in the course of the changeover.
Medvedev got here out to serve for the title for a second time and this he made no mistake as he served it out to win his maiden Grand Slam, turning into the third Russian after Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin to win a serious.