Novak Djokovic clinched his 24th Grand Slam singles title, matching Margaret Court’s record, at the US Open in New York. The 36-year-old Serb won 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 against Daniil Medvedev in a grueling final.
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Djokovic Triumphs at US Open, Pays Homage to Family Support
A straightforward opening set saw Djokovic break for a 2-0 lead. He mixed things up with serve-volley tactics, showing his versatility. Djokovic’s relentless pressure forced errors from Medvedev, who struggled with his serves.
The second set turned into a battle, lasting one hour and 44 minutes. Both players exchanged breaks, and Djokovic appeared physically troubled at times. However, he dug deep to secure the set in a tie-break, taking a two-sets-to-love lead.
Medvedev needed to level the match by winning the second set, but he faced a shoulder injury and couldn’t maintain his resistance. Djokovic broke again in the third set and secured the historic victory.
After the match, Djokovic emotionally celebrated with his family and paid tribute to his childhood dream of competing at the highest level in tennis. He thanked his family for their support during difficult times in war-torn Serbia.
“The odds were pretty much against me and my family. It was not accessible, not affordable, but I fell in love with tennis,” he said.
“No-one in my family played tennis but there was incredible resilience and belief from my family. My wife, my kids, my team, this is your trophy as much as it is mine.”
Djokovic Dedicates Historic US Open Victory to Kobe Bryant
Djokovic also honored his late friend Kobe Bryant, wearing a T-shirt with the basketball legend’s number 24. He spoke about how Bryant’s mentality had inspired him during his own struggles with injuries. “Kobe was a close friend, we chatted a lot about the winners’ mentality when I was struggling with injury and trying to work my way back to the top.”
The victory marked Djokovic’s fourth US Open title and his third Grand Slam win of 2023. He became the first man to achieve this feat on four occasions, setting the stage to surpass Court’s record at the Australian Open.
Despite speculation about a changing of the guard in men’s tennis, Djokovic remains a dominant force. He has won eight of the past 12 majors he has played in and will return to the world number one ranking.
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