US Open tennis men's final as it happened - Daniil Medvedev wins first major to deny Novak Djokovic calendar Grand Slam
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Updated 12/09/2021 at 22:58 GMT
Daniil Medvedev claimed a magnificent straight sets victory to lift the 2021 US Open title and deny world number one Novak Djokovic the calendar grand slam. The Russian won 6-4 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
'Both will go out with similar tactics' - Wilander and Corretja preview Medvedev v Djokovic
The 2021 US Open champion takes centre stage
"Sorry for you fans and Novak. We all know what he was trying to achieve. I never said this to anybody before but I'll say it now:
For me you are the greatest tennis player in history."
Djokovic reflects on defeat
"Thank you so much, guys (to the crowd). I’d like to start off by saying congrats to Daniil. Amazing match, amazing tournament. If anyone deserves a Grand Slam title right now, it's you. Well done. I was thinking in both scenarios, visualising myself standing here in front of you guys, wondering what I would say. I would like to say tonight even though I have not won the match my heart is full with joy and I am the happiest man alive because you guys made me feel very special on the court. You guys touched my soul. I have never felt like this in New York, I love you guys. Thank you so much for your support. I love you and I’ll see you soon."
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Novak Djokovic (US Open 2021)
Image credit: Eurosport
GAME, SET AND MATCH! - DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 4-6 MEDVEDEV
The Calendar Grand Slam dream is over for Novak Djokovic. The US Open final proved to be one hurdle too many for the world number one as he is comprehensively beaten by Daniil Medvedev. The 25-year-old Russian claims his first major title at the third time of asking after dropping just one set en route to glory over the past fortnight. He is the first Russian man to win at this level since Marat Safin at the Australian Open in 2005.
It was tough for both players there. Djokovic was emotional trying to return while Medvedev was tight attempting to see it out. He double faulted again on a second Championship point but then got it done on the third to deservedly wrap up the title after two hours and 15 minutes.
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Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win their Men's Singles final match on Day Fourteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Image credit: Getty Images
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 4-5 MEDVEDEV
What a huge game we have coming up now. Medvedev still hasn’t cleared his heads it seems. The errors leak off his racket and it helps the 20-time major winner to hold to 15. He will now serve for the match for the second time.
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 3-5 MEDVEDEV
That’s a big choke and it is anxious times for Medvedev fans. He wobbles to championship point when Nole fizzes a forehand long but then the double faults flow. Its three in a game and an extremely tight forehand gifts Djokovic one break back.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 2-5 MEDVEDEV
Serve-out question posed. Remember, Medvedev has the double break but he needs to find that huge first serve to make what will be the biggest moment of his career easier to control.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 1-5 MEDVEDEV
It’s nervy from the world number two. He double faults and struggles to find his first serve trailing 15-30. A backhand smacks the net and somehow bobbles over. He apologies to Nole and pretty much everyone gasping in dismay. He then wins a 17-shot rally before another error from the Serb sees Medvedev hold and edge to within a game of his first Grand Slam title.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 1-4 MEDVEDEV
Novak gets on the board as Medvedev seems to drop intensity and hit freely. He barely makes a shot in court as the Serb holds to love. If he comes back from this is will be one of the greatest recoveries in the history of the sport, especially given the context of hat is on the line.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 0-4 MEDVEDEV
Daniil slaps down a 14th ace and even gets a slice of luck with a crosscourt backhand that licks the top of the net on its way to finishing off an efficient hold to 15.
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 0-3 MEDVEDEV
The world No.1 turns to the S and V play book on a couple of occasions to turn around a 0-30 dilemma. Medvedev forces deuce with a stunning backhand down the line and Djokovic capitulates from there. A timid backhand slice barely makes the net and Daniil can’t believe his eyes as he is gifted the insurance break by a volley wide.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 0-2 MEDVEDEV
Only Djokovic knows how Medvedev backed up that break. The Serb finds some sort of form with more pop on his backhand but misses two sitters at the net he’d usually gobble up with his eyes closed. Even then, he still manages to force deuce but Medvedev survives a nervy game as he eats up the ground to the net to prod a winning pass beyond the forlorn Serb.
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 0-1 MEDVEDEV
That is brilliant! Djoker looks to up the ante at 30-0 but when he cracks a backhand wide he starts to unravel. Daniil catches him with a tight volley at the net and then absorbs all the pressure to lure a slice error. He is two sets and a break up!
SET! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-6 MEDVEDEV
It looks all over as a big serve, a 12th ace and a sublime pick-up down the line tee up triple set point. A double fault and a backhand miss make it a tad nervy but Nole can’t convert with the pass and the Russian moves to within a set of winning a maiden major. Djoker is going to need another five-set epic to keep his calendar Slam dream alive.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 4-5 MEDVEDEV
It’s twitchy from Novak but he manages to get through after a 23rd unforced error had given Medvedev hope at 30-30. The Russian should do better with a miscued lob and then Nole puts away the smash. The top seed needs to bring his A-game on return right now.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 3-5 MEDVEDEV
That’s special. Medvedev marauds through a love hold with a surge of big forehands and is one game from a two-set lead.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 3-4 MEDVEDEV
The three-time champion stays in contention. Medvedev shows great defence once more with a lob that lures a forehand error for 0-30. He has a chance to maintain pressure in the rally at 15-30 but lashes a make-able forehand long. Djokovic suddenly finds some momentum with his serve and two quick points help him through.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 2-4 MEDVEDEV
Ruthless. Medvedev rubs the salt right in as he hammers a scorching forehand deep to the postage stamp on his way to a magnificent love hold to back up his break.
A new meaning to the Djoko smash
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 2-3 MEDVEDEV
Djokovic pretty much broke himself there. A third double fault and a tired-looking forehand into the tramlines have his box shuffling anxiously. A dreadful, low slice into the net coughs up two more break points. The Russian gets caught on the serve and volley on the first but stays alive on the second opportunity and Novak butchers a volley long at the net.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 2-2 MEDVEDEV
Pure theatre! Medvedev makes a hash of a volley early on and throws in another double fault going big on the second serve. He outlasts the 20-time major winner in a 27-shot rally to earn game point but then drags back-to-back backhands wide. There’s real drama then as Djokovic has a look at a second serve but music starts playing and Daniil gets a first serve back. He saves BP and Nole almost slams the ball towards a ball girl running his way in shades of last year. He earns another BP but can’t convert and ends up smashing his racket in anger. It’s just what Daniil fans want to see and the Russian gets himself out of another tough situation.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 2-1 MEDVEDEV
The No.2 seed comes out attacking and winds up for a stonking forehand winner to snare a break point. Djokovic responds with clutch serving to claim game point but another surprising error on his trusty backhand keeps the Russian interested. A quite brutal rally ends with Medvedev unable to pass Nole at the net once again and the Serb secures the hold via a smash.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 1-1 MEDVEDEV
The Russian plays his get out of jail card early. Nole thinks he’s in business at 0-40 and has a chance when he picks up a drop shot, but he doesn’t do enough with it and Medvedev finds a pass. An ace fends off the second BP before the world number one is left thumping both of his legs in frustration/tiredness as a tame backhand slaps the net. Daniil picks an opportune moment to nail a 10th ace before another huge serve somehow gets him out of trouble.
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Daniil Medvedev of Russia reacts as he plays against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the first set of the Men's Singles final match on Day Fourteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Image credit: Getty Images
DJOKOVIC 4-6 1-0 MEDVEDEV
Daniil has the chance to strike first but balloons a terrible forehand wide. Djokovic despatches a simple forehand of his own and then once again shows he sees the serve and volley as potentially a key tactic today. A wide lob finishes the job and you sense the comeback is about to start.
SET! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 MEDVEDEV
No danger. Medvedev chalks up the opener in 36 minutes. He hammers down two more aces – including one to wrap it up – and Djoker once again loses the first set at this year’s US Open.
DJOKOVIC 4-5 MEDVEDEV
Close. Medvedev senses an opportunity when the top seed slaps a backhand into the net at 30-30. He reads the wide serve and races to pick-up the Serb’s volley from his low return but can’t find a pass to force a set point. Djokovic completes the hold and the Russian must try to serve it out next.
DJOKOVIC 3-5 MEDVEDEV
Daniil has made 61 per cent of his first serves and won every single one of those 11 points. He moves his ace column up to six and at the moment it’s just too good even for a returner of Novak’s ilk.
DJOKOVIC 3-4 MEDVEDEV
The server reigns supreme. Djokovic blows a volley long but it comes at 40-0 and is the only blot on his copybook in what proves to be another simple hold.
DJOKOVIC 2-4 MEDVEDEV
The crowd engage in the fourth point after another blur of big serving. Djoker edges a lengthy rally to lure an error long and then produces outstanding defence to keep Daniil swinging at the net. The No.2 seed keeps him calm dealing with defensive lobs and eventual smashes away the game at the third time of asking.
DJOKOVIC 2-3 MEDVEDEV
Surprisingly it’s already four apiece on aces. Djokovic has settled and rampages through his first easy service game for the loss of no points.
DJOKOVIC 1-3 MEDVEDEV
That’s brutal. Two more braces and a couple of hefty serves help Medvedev blitz his way to a highly efficient love hold.
DJOKOVIC 1-2 MEDVEDEV
Nervy Nole. The world number one is no stranger to dropping the first set in Flushing Meadows this year but he does look a tad tight. There’s no doubt he’ll shift up several gears in the hours ahead but he needed to find a couple right there. A double fault and a tanked forehand into the net see him cough up two more break points. Clutch serving helps him out of danger and a pair of aces from deuce get him on the board.
DJOKOVIC 0-2 MEDVEDEV
A forehand winner is followed by a pair of aces to demonstrate Medvedev has found his groove. Djokovic retorts with brilliant angle on his return and looks in control in the next rally before overcooking a backhand.
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 0-1 MEDVEDEV
Daniil has a look at second serves galore and also benefits from a double fault but throws in a couple of long, unforced errors of his own. He looks nervy but ignites just in time to come good in an 18-shot rally and force deuce. Djokovic takes charge but slams a raking crosscourt forehand wide to cough up an immediate break point. The Serb then makes a real hash of a forehand and gifts the Russian the perfect start.
Here they come!
The players have arrived on court. Medvedev gets a nice reception but Djokovic's raises the proverbial roof.
H2H
Djokovic leads the ATP match-up 5-3, including their most recent meeting earlier this season at the Australian Open which kicked off his quest to win all four this year. He is 2-0 up at Grand Slams.
Will Nole join a rather unique club?
Djoko would be only the third man to win calendar Slam and only the sixth singles player in history.
The others are: Don Budge (1938), Mo Connolly (1953), Rod Laver (1962 and 1969), Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf (1988).
What remarkable achievements
Can Daniil be the party-pooper?
Medvedev on what it would mean to stop Djoker winning the calendar Grand Slam:
If I can make this, I'm probably (going to) be in the history books a little bit somewhere but I don't really care about it. From one side, for sure he's going to feel the pressure a little bit about it. From the other side, that is what is going to make him be even better in tough moments."
The 2021 women's doubles champions have been crowned
'I don't want to talk about it!'
Djokovic has been key to avoid discussing what a victory tonight would mean for him and the sport of tennis as a whole, insisting it's just about him trying to lift a fourth US Open title.
I just said millions of times that of course I'm aware of the history, of course it gives me motivation. If I start to think about it too much, it burdens me mentally. I'm going to treat this match as it's my last one because it's arguably the most important one of my career maybe. Maybe not, I don't know. But of this year, for sure."
THIRTY MINUTES AND COUNTING
We are edging ever closer to the conclusion of what has been a hugely successful and incredibly exciting US Open.
Last night GB’s Emma Raducanu completed a fairytale success story by winning the women’s tournament - and today it’s all about whether Djokovic can pretty much end the GOAT debate as it stands.
If Djoker beats Medvedev he will become the first male player to complete the calendar Grand Slam in 52 years – i.e since Rod Laver in 1969.
A win for the Serbinator would also give him a 21st major singles title, taking him one clear of the men's record jointly held by himself and great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
'The chance of a century'
Dominic Thiem spoke exclusively to Eurosport about rival Novak Djokovic chasing what would be a 'unique' calendar Grand Slam.
Thiem, the reigning champion in New York, has given his thoughts about the Serb's tilt at history while away from the action recovering due to treatment on a persistent wrist injury.
“I can imagine there is such huge pressure, something none of us can even imagine," Thiem, speaking in the Eurosport Cube, said of Djokovic targeting the feat.
Right now, it’s probable we will witness history that we will never see again in our lives. It’s the chance of a century and we should be grateful for that.
It's time for the men's final
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE build up to the final match of the 2021 US Open and what has been a quite incredible Grand Slam.
It's top seed Novak Djokovic against second seed Daniil Medvedev and the stakes could hardly be higher with the world number one seeking to complete a historic calendar Grand Slam.
The Eurosport experts have been looking at how Daniil Medvedev aims to stop Novak Djokovic completing the historic calendar Grand Slam at the US Open.
Mats Wilander believes both players will be using similar tactics...
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'Both will go out with similar tactics' - Wilander and Corretja preview Medvedev v Djokovic
'History in the making' - Becker backs Djokovic ahead of final tilt at calendar Grand Slam
Boris Becker has thrown his backing behind "the king" Novak Djokovic ahead of his final tilt at the calendar Grand Slam in 2021 at the US Open.
Read more here.
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‘Something unbelievable’ – Will Djokovic win 21st Grand Slam?
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