Daniil Medvedev is an Russian tennis player. He shattered Novak Djokovic’s who is an Serbian tennis player. Medvedev shattered Novak Grand Slam dream with a straight sets victory in the U.S. Open final Sunday.
Medvedev dominated Novak 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to prevent the first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1969. And keep Djokovic level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal atop the career Slam title list.
Medvedev said “Sorry for you fans and Novak because we all know what he was going for,”.
“What you have accomplished in your career… for me, you are the greatest tennis player in the history”.
He was a 2019 U. S. opens runner up . And captured his first Grand slam title in his third slam final. After a rematch in the month of February Australian Open. The 34 years Novak had a clear win.
“Congratulations to Daniil. Amazing match,” Djokovic said. “If there’s anyone that deserves a Grand Slam title right now, it’s you.”
Djokovic also in order to reach the finals bid on U.S., French, and Australian Opens and Wimbledon. He did all these in the same year. This reminds us of Rod Laver who did it 52 years back. But he collapsed at the last hurdle. These 83 years old Australian players and 23,700 people were always watching the Djokovic match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Simply stunning Daniil Medvedev, you stopped one of the greatest tonight,” Laver tweeted. “To win your first Grand Slam title is always special, to do it against a champion like Novak Djokovic is something else. Take heart Novak, the quest continues. Best wishes.”
He missed out on his fourth U.S Open title. And in 2022 he will go against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. These three are known as the Big Three rivals. The match in 2022 will be more intense and interesting. Rafael and Roger were always absent because of injuries on all-time record 20 men’s slam titles.
Sitting after the match, tearful Djokovic said he was overcome with emotions.
“Relief,” he said. “I was glad it was over because the buildup for this tournament and everything that mentally, and emotionally I had to deal with throughout the tournament in the last couple of weeks was just a lot.”
“It was a lot to handle. I was just glad that finally, the run is over.”
“At the same time, I felt sadness, disappointment, and also gratitude for the crowd.”
Djokovic even paid tribute to the crowd that roared support for him. Even when all seemed lost down two sets and two breaks.
“Even though I have not won the match, my heart is filled with joy and I’m the happiest man alive because you guys have made me feel special on the court,” Djokovic said.
“You guys touch my soul. I’ve never felt like this in New York”.
Instead of joining immortals Laver and Don Budge, who completed the first men’s Slam in 1938, Djokovic became the third man to fall at the final match attempting to complete the Slam after Australians Jack Crawford in 1933 and Lew Hoad in 1956.
“I do feel sorry for Novak because I cannot imagine what he feels,” Medvedev said.
Djokovic had a long history of struggle. He had 1,176 matches. In the match against Medvedev, he made two unforced forehand errors to surrender a break in the first game. And Medvedev held through to take the first set, never facing a break point.
was the fifth consecutive match in which Djokovic dropped the first set.
Djokovic squandered three break chances in the second game of the second set and another in the fourth when he smashed his racquet in frustration.
In the fifth game, Djokovic mis-hit a backhand volley to hand Medvedev a break and a 3-2 lead, and the Russian held three times to claim the set.
Medvedev broke in the first and third games of the final set, pulled ahead 5-1, and served for the match in the eighth game.
With hecklers in the crowd, Medvedev double-faulted on championship point and again, then netted a forehand to surrender a break that kept Djokovic in the match.
“It was not easy,” Medvedev said.
Serving again for the match at 5-4, Medvedev double-faulted on his second match point but finally got over the line on his third chance with a service winner after two hours and 16 minutes.