Novak Djokovic towards Daniil Medvedev within the US Open males’s ultimate could not have been the showdown followers have been dreaming of but it surely might nonetheless convey the grand slam season to a spellbinding conclusion.
For weeks the tennis world was buzzing about witnessing the red-hot rivalry between Djokovic and holder Carlos Alcaraz within the Flushing Meadows finale – till Medvedev performed the spoiler with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 3-6 6-3 semi-final win over the Spanish celebrity.
But what a ultimate between former US Open champion Medvedev and three-time winner Djokovic could lack in pizzazz it’ll greater than make up for in high quality, with the world’s two finest hard-court gamers going toe-to-toe at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The contest comes with some spicy sub plots as Djokovic hunts a fourth US Open that may have him equal Australian Margaret Court’s report haul of 24 grand slam titles.
Along with it will come a measure of revenge towards Medvedev.
On Sunday (Monday 6am AEST) the Serb will look throughout the online on the identical man standing between him and sporting historical past as he did two years in the past.
The final time Djokovic and Medvedev clashed on the US Open was within the 2021 ultimate, when the Russian captured his solely main to this point and denied the Serb a calendar grand slam.
It is a loss Djokovic has not forgotten.
“Every time in a grand slam final it’s another shot for history and I’m aware of it,” stated Djokovic, who will reclaim prime spot on the planet rankings on Monday.
“I don’t have much time nor do I allow myself to reflect on these things or think about the history too much.
“When I did that previously, like ’21 finals (towards Medvedev) right here, I used to be perhaps overwhelmed with the event and the chance. I underperformed.
“I don’t want this to happen again.”
Medvedev and Djokovic have each been examined en path to the ultimate.
Second seed Djokovic, 36, fought again from two units all the way down to beat fellow Serb Laslo Djere within the third spherical however didn’t drop one other set on the way in which to his tenth US Open ultimate.
Medvedev’s hardest bodily check got here within the quarter-finals when he beat his daughter’s godfather Andrey Rublev in straight units in brutal warmth and humidity.
The Russian additionally overcame two Australians on his path to the ultimate, getting the higher of Chris O’Connell in 4 units in spherical two earlier than beating Alex de Minaur within the spherical of 16.
Medvedev stated he needed to increase his stage to “12 out of 10” within the semi-finals to dethrone Alcaraz and would wish to do the identical or higher towards Djokovic.
“(Djokovic) is always better than the previous time he plays,” stated Medvedev, who might be showing in his third US Open ultimate, having additionally misplaced to Rafael Nadal in 2019.
“Novak is going to be his best version on Sunday and I have to be the best-ever version of myself if I want to try to beat him.
“And I’ve to be, if I need to nonetheless beat him, 10 occasions higher than I used to be (in 2021).”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
