Novak Djokovic‘s quest for a twenty-first main identify that could have finished the calendar year’s Grand Slam collapsed at the final hurdle in a stunning 6-4-6-four defeat with the aid of Russian Daniil Medvedev at the U.S. Open on Sunday.
Medvedev, who was playing in his 0.33 fundamental final, finally hoisted a Grand Slam trophy while avenging a direct set defeat with the assistance of Djokovic earlier this year in the Australian Open final.
The 34-year-antique Serb turned out to be looking to become the first guy in over a half a century to win all four majors (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open) in the same year.
It would have made him the most effective third man to achieve the feat after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969), who changed to watching from a courtside seat.
“It’s a tough one to swallow, this loss, considering the entirety that has become on the road,” stated Djokovic.
“I was happy when it was over because the building up for this tournament and the entirety of what I needed to cope with mentally and emotionally during the tournament within the remaining couple of weeks became simply a lot.
“It has become a lot to handle.”
For the fifth consecutive time, Djokovic observed himself playing catch-up after dropping the first set.
But this time there would be no way out because the rampaging Russian stored up the strain with a barrage of aces at the same time as permitting Djokovic a single break.
In the second set, Medvedev stepped up the stress, in addition, and Djokovic confirmed the first symptoms of cracking, the Serb destroying his racquet in a fit of frustration after missing match possibilities.
With Djokovic at the ropes, Medvedev moved in with the knockout punch, breaking to clinch the second and then racing to a double-destroyed 4-zero lead in the third.
Because of Medvedev’s dominance, the only moment of suspense occurred in the 0.33 when the Russian was hit by a bout of nerves while attempting to close out the match.
The score is 5-2.Medvedev double faulted on the shape factor, allowing Djokovic to cozy up to his ruin.
After the top seed held serve to trim the deficit to five-4, Medvedev again had a healthy factor and once more double faulted.
But the 25-year-old did not waste another opportunity, amassing himself to win the title on his third attempt.
Medvedev later revealed that there could have been greater drama had the shape gone any further. He said he began to cramp up simply as he started to shut out the 1/3 and feared Djokovic could pounce if he saw any signal of vulnerability.
“At 5-four, my left leg, I nearly could not walk,” stated Medvedev. “When I walked to the towel, my leg just went in the back of it.
“I used to be attempting to expose it. If Novak feels it, it is not properly.”
RECORDS WEIGHT
Djokovic entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium courtroom carrying the weight of records on his shoulders.
A fantastic girls’ final on Saturday between young adults Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez had softened the spotlight’s glare on Djokovic, but there was no shirking from it on Sunday with tennis fans around the world tuned in to witness history.
The ladies’ final became the first Grand Slam to feature unseeded players, but the men’s final followed the script to the letter, with number one Djokovic facing number two Medvedev.
The New York crowd had embraced Djokovic in the same way it had embraced Swiss Roger Federer and Spaniard Rafa Nadal, both of whom had won 20 Grand Slam titles.
It had also shown no genuine affection for Medvedev, the lanky Russian who relished the role of US Open villain on his way to the 2019 final.
Perhaps sensing they had been about to witness something special, the group rallied at the back of Djokovic from the instant he stepped on court, showering him with cheers and chants of his nickname: “Nole, Nole, Nole”.
“I felt something I’d never felt in my life right here in New York,” Djokovic said.”The group made me feel very special.
“The emotion, the power turned out to be so sturdy. I suggest it is as robust as winning 21 Grand Slams.
“That is how I felt, honestly.”
However, no amount of aid may be able to carry Djokovic’s game.
The Serb had stated that he would approach the final as if it were the last match of his career, but he never managed to find his best form.
Medvedev was also well aware that if he were to deny Djokovic the coveted calendar year Grand Slam, he would cross a line in the record books.
“It honestly makes it sweeter,” said Medvedev. “He was going for a large history and the understanding that I managed to stop him simply makes it sweeter and brings me self-assurance for what’s to come.”
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