NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic altered the tennis report books once more Sunday, profitable his fourth US Open title and his twenty fourth Grand Slam 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 over No. 3 Daniil Medvedev and tying Australian Margaret Court docket for essentially the most main victories throughout all eras. The 36-year-old Serbian is now one singles title forward of Serena Williams and owns essentially the most main victories of any participant within the Open period.
“It clearly means the world to me,” Djokovic stated in the course of the on-court trophy presentation. “To make the historical past of this sport is one thing really outstanding and particular in each potential approach and in each that means of the phrase ‘particular.'”
Two years in the past, the 27-year-old Russian upset Djokovic on this ultimate and ended his run at turning into simply the third man to realize the calendar Grand Slam, profitable all 4 majors in a calendar yr. This time, Djokovic was excellent in capturing his third Grand Slam title this yr. He misplaced solely the Wimbledon ultimate to Carlos Alcaraz. On Monday, Djokovic will change Alcaraz on the prime of the world rankings.
“I had the childhood dream at 7 or 8 to turn out to be the perfect and win the Wimbledon trophy,” Djokovic stated. “Then I began to dream new goals and set new objectives, however I by no means imagined I might be speaking about 24 Slams.”
However Djokovic wasn’t the one story in New York. Quite a bit occurred within the two weeks main as much as Sunday’s historic ultimate. Listed here are our round-by-round highlights from a memorable males’s draw.
First spherical: The return to type
Dominic Thiem def. Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
The previous world No. 3 and 2020 US Open champion, Thiem has struggled with a devastating proper wrist damage however gained his first Grand Slam match in 2½ years. The achievement wasn’t misplaced on the Grandstand crowd. “I believe the individuals are actually appreciating the comeback from the damage,” Thiem stated afterward. “I’ve the sensation many individuals know that it is not straightforward coming again.”
Coming into New York, Thiem had misplaced his earlier six matches at Slams. A 3rd-round win over Australian Nick Kyrgios on the 2021 Australian Open was his final main win till this one final Monday. “Because the damage, I’ve performed many tournaments,” Thiem stated. “I did many, many apply periods. I additionally gave a number of load on the wrist once more. So it is utterly high quality. However the psychological aspect was not that straightforward to revive just like the arm was.”
Thiem misplaced within the second spherical to American Ben Shelton.
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Michael Mmoh completes epic comeback to beat John Isner
Michael Mmoh comes again from two units all the way down to beat fellow American John Isner within the second spherical of the US Open.
Second spherical: The retirement social gathering
Michael Mmoh def. John Isner 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (7)
Isner introduced he would retire after this US Open, which meant a loss right here can be the ultimate singles match of his profession. And the 38-year-old didn’t exit with out a battle. The profession ace chief, Isner is thought for his behemoth serves and for profitable the longest match in tennis historical past — 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days at Wimbledon in 2010. After profitable the primary two units towards fellow American Mmoh, Isner misplaced to the 25-year-old in a detailed five-setter.
“Because of this I’ve labored as exhausting as I’ve my complete life, to play in atmospheres like this,” Isner stated after the match. “I may not win all of them, as we all know, similar to right this moment. To play in entrance of this crowd and have the assist I’ve had is fairly particular. I by no means imagined myself having this a lot success for this lengthy.”
Mmoh misplaced within the third spherical to Brit Jack Draper.
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Novak Djokovic rallies to defeat Laslo Djere in 5-set marathon
Novak Djokovic rallies to defeat Laslo Djere in a five-set marathon to advance to the fourth spherical of the US Open.
Third spherical: The guts-stopper
Novak Djokovic def. Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3
Djokovic entered this event conscious of the project: make the ultimate and take a look at, for a second time, to tie Margaret Court docket’s report of 24 Grand Slams. Two units into his third-round match towards the 28-year-old Serbian, it appeared Djokovic may crack beneath the stress. But when anybody has the endurance to intestine out an almost four-hour, five-set win on Ashe, it is the 23-time Slam champ. With the win, he averted what would have been his earliest exit right here since 2006.
“I believe the message is distributed to the remainder of the sector that clearly I am nonetheless in a position to play 5 units deep at night time,” Djokovic stated after the match. “Coming from two units down all the time sends a robust message to the longer term opponents. On the similar time, I am probably not eager to be on this place, to be trustworthy. I choose a straight-set win. Hopefully I can get again on that monitor within the subsequent match.”
Spoiler alert: He did not drop one other set all event.
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Zverev outlasts Sinner in 5-set marathon to advance at US Open
Alexander Zverev takes match level to win in 5 units vs. Jannik Sinner and advance to the US Open quarterfinals.
Fourth spherical: The survivor
Alexander Zverev def. Jannik Sinner 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
It was the longest match of the event, and after 4 hours and 41 minutes, No. 12 Zverev — who missed eight months after injuring his ankle in a semifinal towards Rafael Nadal on the 2022 French Open — closed out the match at 1:30 a.m. ET.
“I suppose I can say I am again, proper?” Zverev stated after the match, which was disrupted within the fourth set when a fan seated behind chair umpire James Keothavong yelled earlier than Zverev served. “He simply stated essentially the most well-known Hitler phrase there’s on this world,” Zverev stated to Keothavong. “It isn’t acceptable.” The fan was faraway from the stadium and play restarted.
“Final yr after I wasn’t in a position to play, that is precisely what I missed: enjoying till 1:30 in entrance of a packed crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. There’s nothing higher.”
With the win, Zverev booked a spot within the semifinals, the place he misplaced in three units to Carlos Alcaraz.
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Unranked Shelton knocks off No. 10 Tiafoe to achieve semis
Ben Shelton celebrates as he clinches a spot within the semifinals with a win over Frances Tiafoe.
Quarterfinals: The all-American upset
Ben Shelton def. Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2
Shelton’s 149 mph serves. A wild third set that featured six breaks within the first eight video games. His “dialed in” telephone name celebration. This late-night stunner had all of it, and after the match, Shelton was the final American man standing within the males’s singles draw. “I like to see American tennis getting into an awesome path and tennis basically getting into an awesome path,” Shelton stated.
A star in faculty tennis and the 2022 NCAA singles champion, Shelton, who left the College of Florida final yr to pursue a professional profession, was not the American anybody predicted to outlast his compatriots. However his run was one of the entertaining of the event and stuffed with potential for the longer term. “I discovered loads about myself these two weeks, figuring out how deep I can go, how deep I can dig,” Shelton stated after shedding to Djokovic within the subsequent spherical. “It is such a psychological sport. I discovered a spot the place I can function and nonetheless be calm and clear-minded, however be a fierce competitor.”
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Medvedev topples Alcaraz to advance to US Open ultimate
Daniil Medvedev slams residence the volley to take the match over Carlos Alcaraz and advance to the US Open males’s singles ultimate.
Semifinals: The shock finalist
Daniil Medvedev def. Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
This yr, Alcaraz had Medvedev’s quantity, beating him “simply” as Medvedev put it, of their earlier two conferences at Wimbledon and Indian Wells. Medvedev stated he wanted to play “10 out of 12” to topple the world No. 1 and earn a shot at a second US Open title, and from the opening set, that is precisely what he did. Medvedev’s service recreation was stellar, he returned nicely and he by no means misplaced his cool. Alcaraz, alternatively, confirmed he could be inclined to frustration and indecision and struggled to seek out a solution for Medvedev’s much-improved recreation towards him.
“I assumed that, proper now, I’m a greater participant to seek out options when the match isn’t getting into the suitable path for me,” Alcaraz stated. “However, , after this match, I’ll change my thoughts. I am not mature sufficient to deal with these form of matches. I’ve to find out about it.”