The paths of Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev will converge as soon as once more on Sunday with each males chasing historical past of their very own within the U.S. Open last – the Serb looking for a calendar slam and the Russian on the lookout for his maiden main.
The males’s draw at Grand Slams through the years has largely gone to script, and it’s in all probability becoming that the highest two gamers on the planet will do battle within the summit conflict at Flushing Meadows.
Victory on Sunday will make Djokovic solely the third man after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) to brush all 4 majors in the identical yr. Medvedev, in the meantime, might be hoping to get third time fortunate in a Grand Slam last.
World primary Djokovic has needed to grind his option to the ultimate, dropping the opening set in his final three matches earlier than roaring again every time to safe victory, the most recent coming in opposition to fourth seed Alexander Zverev within the semi-final.
Four males have pushed Novak Djokovic to a last set at a Grand Slam this yr.
None have defeated him. pic.twitter.com/FXqM93l6HI
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
Zverev’s booming serve and energy off each wings triggered issues for Djokovic earlier than he began mixing his pictures as much as throw off the German, who ultimately capitulated within the fifth set for the Serb to march into his thirty first Grand Slam last.
Djokovic, 34, now has a shot at successful a file twenty first main to maneuver previous Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
“I know we want to talk about history. I know it’s on the line,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’m going to treat this match as it’s my last one because it’s arguably the most important one of my career.”
CONTRASTING ROUTES
Medvedev, alternatively, has cruised to the ultimate, dropping only one set and placing on an exhibition of brutal tennis that has seen him emerge because the one of the crucial thrilling prospects on tour.
“The more you lose something, the more you want to win it… I lost two finals. I want to win the third one,” mentioned the Russian, who got here up quick in opposition to Nadal in New York in 2019 and was crushed by Djokovic within the Australian Open last this yr.
The final time the #USOpen males’s singles last noticed the highest two gamers on the planet… pic.twitter.com/ZLuPMpXStO
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
The Serb didn’t have a lot bother seeing off Medvedev in straight units at Melbourne Park in January however the 25-year-old seems to be a extra seasoned competitor now, having beforehand unsettled Djokovic together with his depth.
The two have met six occasions on onerous courts, with Djokovic main 4-2.
“It’s going to be a battle… he’s already had couple of Grand Slam finals behind him. I think experience-wise it’s different for him now,” Djokovic added.
The stress might be on Djokovic however the three-times U.S. Open champion has a behavior of embracing adversity, particularly in crunch matches the place his psychological toughness permits him to function at a better degree than his opponents.
Medvedev understands the burden of the second however mentioned he deliberate to stay to his personal recreation: “If I can make this, I’ll probably be in the history books for not letting him do this. But I don’t really care… it affects him.”
