SEPTEMBER 10: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
(September 10, 2023) FLUSHING, NY – Novak Djokovic is now tied with Margaret Court for the most major tennis titles. The 36-year-old form Serbia won his 24th major title on Sunday when he defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, 27, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 for the 2023 US Open title. The title is Djokovic’s fourth New York crown and overall 96th title in his career, his 69th on hard court.
It was exacting a bit of revenge for the Serbian, who was denied the 2021 Grand Slam. Djokovic had come into the 2021 final having won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon when Medvedev defeated him in straight sets at the US Open.
Djokovic controlled the first set easily taking a 3-0 lead to start and never allowing the 2021 championship and peace in his service games. Djokovic was won 81% of first service points, hitting 12 winners to 10 unforced errors. He was 5 for 6 at the net and won 17 of the 36 baseline rallies.
The second set stayed close and in the eighth game, Djokovic who looked tired, saved multiple break points to stay even. Djokovic saved a set point in the 12th game to get to a tiebreak. The 104-minute set went to Djokovic who rallied from 1-3 down, taking a 6-3, 7-6(5) lead. .
Set three had Djokovic break serve in the third game to take a 3-1 lead, was broken, and broke again but he held on for game, set, match championship and record-tying 24th major 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in three hours and 17 minutes.
Djokovic was impressive with his net play, winning 20 out 21 serve and volley points and 37/ 44 at net.
“It means the world to me,” Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony. “I’m really living my childhood dream. To compete at the highest level in the sport that has given me and my family so much coming from very difficult circumstances and adversities during the 90s, a couple of wars in our country and being able to push that through. Especially for my parents, giving a lot of sacrifice to support me and play this very expensive sport at the time, not affordable. I fell in love with tennis, it was quite a choice, but incredible resilience, believe from my parents and all the people around me all these years, everyone. This is your trophy as much as is mine. I love you.”
“It’s hard to describe it with words. I had a childhood dream when I was 7, 8. I wanted to become the best player in the world and win the Wimbledon trophy. That was the only thing I wanted. But then when I set new dreams and new goals I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Grand Slams.”
“I said on the court that my childhood goal was to win Wimbledon and be No. 1 in the world, and when I realized that, then obviously I had to set new goals,” Djokovic said to media. “Because goals are important, you know, to motivate you so that you have clarity in your preparation, in your day-to-day, what you do on a daily, on a weekly basis in order for you to actually reach the destination where you’re headed. I think that’s super important for every athlete.
“So I was setting new goals higher and higher and higher as my career progressed. But to be honest with you, I was probably not thinking so intensely and concretely about the history of the weeks at No. 1 or most slams until maybe three years ago. Then I realized, okay, I’m quite close for weeks in No. 1. I also have a pretty good chance at the Grand Slams if I keep healthy and if I’m playing well.
“Of course the slams at that point seemed a little bit less reachable than weeks of No. 1, but I believed. I believed that I’ll make it.
“I don’t put any number right now in my mind on how many slams I want to win until the end of my career. I don’t really have any number.
“I’ll continue to prioritize them as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. So that will not change. That will stay the same in the next season or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs. So let’s see.”
Djokovic who was the No. 2 seed, moves up to the top ranking on Monday for his record extending 390th week.
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More to follow…
