Novak Djokovic, the 36-year-old Serbian tennis sensation, etched his name into the annals of tennis history on Sunday as he secured his fourth US Open championship title and his remarkable 24th Grand Slam singles title.
In a dominant display of skill and determination, Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, further cementing his claim as the greatest tennis player of all time.
With a final score of 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), and 6-3, Djokovic made history by becoming the oldest men’s champion in New York in the Open era, surpassing all expectations. He also equaled Margaret Court’s all-time record for the most Grand Slam victories, standing tall at 24 titles.
After his victory, an emotional Djokovic expressed his sentiments, stating, “I don’t know where to start. It obviously means the world to me. It’s hard to describe. I’m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in this sport. I never imagined I would be standing talking about 24 Grand Slams, but in the last couple of years, I’ve felt I have a chance and a shot at history, and why not grab it.”
Djokovic’s monumental win at the US Open follows his earlier victories at the Australian Open and the French Open earlier in the same year. His only setback in 2023 was a five-set defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July.
Goran Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s coach, praised his protege, saying, “You know, some people who are born, he’s a genius. He’s one of a kind. Not too many people in this world like him sport-wise. This is one of the biggest achievements in the sport’s history.”
Daniil Medvedev, who has faced Djokovic multiple times in Grand Slam finals, humorously acknowledged Djokovic’s dominance, quipping, “First of all, I want to ask Novak: What are you still doing here? Come on! I don’t know when you are planning to slow down a little bit. I mean, 24. I feel like I have not had a bad career, and I have 20 titles. You have 24 Grand Slams. Wow.”
The match held historical significance as Medvedev had defeated Djokovic in straight sets in the 2021 US Open final, denying Djokovic the opportunity to win all four Grand Slam events in the same year, a feat last achieved by Rod Laver in 1969.
In Sunday’s championship match, Djokovic displayed remarkable composure and skill. He started aggressively, breaking Medvedev’s serve early in the first set, ultimately winning it 6-3. The second set saw intense competition, with Djokovic forcing a tie-break after some thrilling exchanges. Djokovic prevailed in the tie-break, taking a commanding two-set lead.
Medvedev, who had displayed incredible form leading up to the final, struggled to maintain his consistency against Djokovic’s relentless play. Despite some moments of brilliance, Medvedev was unable to break Djokovic’s resolve. Djokovic finally secured the third set, sealing the championship with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
The victory marked Djokovic as the first man in the Open era to win three Grand Slam events in the same season four times, underscoring his impending return to the world number one ranking.
Djokovic’s dominance on the court has left fans and pundits alike in awe, as he continues to rewrite the history books with his unparalleled achievements in the sport of tennis.
