CNN
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Novak Djokovic received the US Open on Sunday by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 within the males’s ultimate to increase his report Grand Slam singles titles to 24.
The world No. 2 has additional established herself as one of many best tennis gamers in historical past: with Sunday’s victory, she equals Margaret Courtroom’s report for essentially the most Grand Slam titles of all time.
In a rematch of the 2021 US Open ultimate, the Serbian avenged his loss to No. 3 Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York to finish his triumphant return to america.
“Clearly it means the world to me,” Djokovic stated after the match. “I’m really dwelling my childhood dream of competing on the highest degree within the sport that has given a lot to me and my household.”
Enjoying in entrance of a who’s who crowd, Djokovic was in his standard dominant kind within the first set, by no means dealing with a break level as he hit 12 winners in 9 video games. Coming into Sunday’s ultimate, Djokovic was 72-1 all-time on the US Open when profitable the primary set, together with his solely loss coming to Stan Wawrinka within the 2016 ultimate.
The second set proved to be extra aggressive as Djokovic and Medvedev traded video games in a back-and-forth springboard, which culminated within the Serbian profitable 7-5 within the tiebreaker after one hour and 45 minutes.
From there, with the momentum in his favor and a fourth US Open title a set away, Djokovic cruised to victory, needing only one championship level to seal the historic title.
With the win, the 36-year-old turns into the oldest man to win a US Open singles title within the Open period and the primary man to win three Grand Slam titles in a season for the fourth time, having beforehand performed so in 2011, 2015 and 2015. 2021.
Djokovic additionally extends his lead over Spain’s Rafael Nadal (22) and Switzerland’s Roger Federer (20) for many males’s singles titles of all time.
“To make historical past on this sport is basically outstanding and particular in each attainable and each attainable that means of the phrase particular,” Djokovic stated.
Sitting within the entrance row throughout the match was Djokovic’s six-year-old daughter, he stated throughout a press convention after the match, sharing with reporters that she would smile at him when he wanted his power essentially the most.
It was essential to him that his daughter, in addition to his nine-year-old son, expertise their father’s victory after they have been sufficiently old to know victory, he stated.
And as for what retains him going, Djokovic stated: “I do not need to depart the game if I am nonetheless enjoying on the prime.”
After his victory, an emotional Djokovic momentarily dropped to his arms and knees earlier than strolling in direction of his household within the stands to have fun.
When he returned to the court docket, Djokovic paid tribute to late NBA celebrity Kobe Bryant by becoming a blue T-shirt bearing a photograph of himself and the Lakers legend with the phrases “Mamba Endlessly” emblazoned on the entrance and the quantity on the again. Bryant wore No. 24 within the second half of his skilled basketball profession.
“I believed it is perhaps a pleasant symbolic factor to acknowledge him,” stated Djokovic, who thought of Bryant an in depth pal.
“We talked quite a bit in regards to the winner’s mentality after I was battling the harm and attempting to make my comeback, work to get again to the highest of the sport,” Djokovic stated of his relationship with Bryant.
“He was one of many folks I belief essentially the most. He was all the time there for any sort of recommendation, recommendation, any sort of assist within the kindest method.”
In every grand slam this 12 months, Djokovic had the chance to make historical past.
He tied Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam titles on the Australian Open, tied the lads’s report of 23 Grand Slam titles on the French Open and was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz on the Australian Open. Wimbledon ultimate
The Serbian may have the possibility to step on Courtroom and etch his title because the winningest participant of all time on the Australian Open in January 2024.
