Tennis nice Novak Djokovic has cemented his place in sporting immortality with a record-equalling twenty fourth grand slam singles crown.
The tremendous Serb gained candy revenge over Daniil Medvedev with a sapping 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 US Open ultimate triumph in New York to match the all-time majors document of Australian legend Margaret Court.
A twenty fourth slam eluded Serena Williams, who misplaced her final 4 main finals earlier than retiring final 12 months, however not Djokovic, who additionally turns into the oldest man to win the Flushing Meadows title within the 55-year skilled period.
The 36-year-old changed Australian nice Ken Rosewall – who was 35 when he gained the 1970 US Open – within the document books together with his three-hour, 16-minute victory.
Sunday’s conflict was a rematch of the 2021 ultimate, which Medvedev gained in straight units for his lone main title to disclaim Djokovic a fabled calendar-year grand slam sweep.
Djokovic has now taken three of the 4 out there grand slams in 2023, having additionally gained the Australian Open and Roland Garros whereas shedding the Wimbledon ultimate in 5 units to Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
His fourth title from 10 Flushing Meadows finals propels the undisputed tennis GOAT again to the highest of the rankings, changing dethroned champion Alcaraz.
Of extra significance to Djokovic is his document in opposition to his friends; he’s now two away from Nadal’s 22 grand slam crowns and 4 forward of Roger Federer, who declared final 12 months on 20.
The Serb wasted no time displaying off his history-making feat, donning a shirt with ‘24’ and ‘Mamba Forever’ written on it as a tribute to the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, who wore that jersey quantity.
On high of that went a white jacket with the identical important quantity stamped on the chest.
“I don’t know where to start – it obviously means the world to me,” stated Djokovic, who who missed final 12 months’s US Open after refusing to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.
“I’m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in a sport that has given me and my family so much.
“I never imagined I would be standing here talking about 24 slams. But the last couple of years I felt I had a chance, a shot at history, so why not grab it?
“To compete at the highest level in this sport that has given me and my family so much, coming from very difficult circumstances and adversities in the ‘90s, a couple of wars in our country, and being able to push through that.
“Especially my parents, giving a lot of sacrifices to support me to play. I love you, so thank you so much.
“To support me to play this sport; it is a very expensive sport. At that time (it was) very expensive, not accessible, not affordable, but I fell in love with it, this tennis.
“No one has played tennis in my family before so it was quite a choice, I must say.
“So everyone in my family – my wife, my children, my team, this is as much your trophy as mine.”
Third-seeded Medvedev, who knocked out Australians Chris O’Connell and Alex de Minaur in addition to reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz on his strategy to the ultimate, has now misplaced 4 grand slam title deciders – two every to Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev misplaced to Nadal in New York in 2019 and Melbourne final 12 months, and was crushed by Djokovic on the 2021 Australian Open.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
