| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 August-10 September |
| Protection: Each day dwell textual content and radio commentaries throughout the BBC Sport web site, app, BBC Radio 5 Reside and 5 Sports activities Additional |
Carlos Alcaraz had his reign as US Open champion ended by Daniil Medvedev because the Russian arrange one other New York remaining in opposition to Novak Djokovic.
The Spanish prime seed misplaced 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 3-6 6-3 to Medvedev, guaranteeing there shall be no repeat of the Wimbledon remaining between Alcaraz and Djokovic.
Djokovic swatted apart younger American Ben Shelton to maneuver inside another win of a record-equalling twenty fourth main title.
The Serb, 36, gained 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to shut in on Margaret Courtroom’s tally.
Alcaraz, 20, prevented Djokovic levelling Courtroom after they met on the All England Membership in July and Russian third seed Medvedev, who gained his sole main at Flushing Meadows two years in the past, might do the identical on Sunday.
Medvedev regained his composure in a tense end to serve out victory, taking a fourth match level to win a charming contest which left many of the 24,000 crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium on their ft.
Djokovic misplaced to Medvedev within the 2021 remaining and was not allowed to enter the USA for final 12 months’s event as a result of he was unvaccinated in opposition to Covid-19.
Nonetheless, he has now has reached a tenth US Open remaining on his return and can goal for a fourth triumph on Sunday.
Djokovic reacted by mimicking Shelton’s celebration of choosing up a telephone – to point he was dialled in – and slamming it down.
“These are the matches and events I thrive on, they encourage me day by day to maintain working as arduous because the younger guys,” stated Djokovic, who, for the third time in his profession, has reached each Grand Slam remaining in a 12 months.
“I nonetheless really feel I’ve one thing left within the legs and one thing to provide to the game. I could not be happier.”
Medvedev performed ’12 out of 10′ to beat Alcaraz
Going into the final Grand Slam event of the 12 months, most individuals predicted Alcaraz and Djokovic would proceed their creating rivalry by assembly as soon as once more in a significant remaining.
One man with the excellent pedigree to cease that occuring was Medvedev.
The 27-year-old has proved he can thrive on the North American arduous courts, notably when he dominated the swing in 2019 earlier than shedding to Rafael Nadal within the US Open remaining and two years later when he landed his maiden main title.
Earlier than dealing with Alcaraz within the final 4, the Russian stated he wanted to play “11 out of 10” to beat the highest seed.
And so he did within the opening two units, sticking within the rallies to attract errors out of Alcaraz and dominating his service video games on his solution to a commanding lead.
Alcaraz, backed by a number of Spanish followers within the crowd, clawed a set again as his continuous strikes ahead paid off.
However he was nonetheless unable to succeed in his highest stage with Medvedev, rock stable from the baseline and exhibiting sharp anticipation, excellent in all aspects.
Medvedev saved three break factors for a 2-1 lead and took Alcaraz’s serve in a pivotal sixth sport lasting greater than 13 minutes.
Getting over the road was not a easy activity, Medvedev double faulting twice after lacking a match level, earlier than he landed three well timed first serves to assist safe victory.
“I stated I wanted to play 11 out of 10 in opposition to Carlos. I performed 12 out of 10, besides from the third set,” stated Medvedev, who will contest his third US Open remaining in 5 years.
“He’s actually actually unbelievable. To beat him it is advisable be higher than your self and I managed to do it.”
Djokovic teaches one other lesson to a different teenager
An indication of Djokovic’s greatness has been his potential to dominate a lot youthful opponents on the largest levels over latest years.
Up to now 5 seasons, Djokovic has misplaced solely eight of the 53 matches he has performed in opposition to opponents underneath the age of 23.
At Wimbledon, Alcaraz was solely the second participant youthful than Djokovic – after Medvedev on the 2021 US Open – to beat him in a significant remaining since 2020.
With Djokovic’s method, mentality and athleticism exhibiting few indicators of weakening, Shelton was the newest younger pretender to be taught a lesson.
The second seed enforced his high quality and expertise from the beginning, serving neatly and returning Shelton’s greatest weapon properly earlier than intensifying the strain.
Djokovic remained totally calm and managed to quieten the house crowd, additional flattening the temper at the beginning of the third set.
Shelton made a visit to the locker room in a bid to alter the dynamic, however two double faults led to Djokovic breaking within the first sport with an outstanding passing winner.
Successful in straight units regarded a formality for the 23-time main champion till Shelton discovered his finest stage of the match to interrupt again for 4-4.
The world quantity 47 created a set level at 5-4 which Djokovic saved with a pinpoint service winner, earlier than a sloppy sport allowed Djokovic to strike for 6-5.
Shelton was not completed but. He noticed Djokovic push a forehand vast on match level and broke again to drive a tie-break, just for Djokovic to ramp up the depth once more earlier than taking his second match level.