In a thrilling US Open final held in New York, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic secured his 24th Grand Slam singles title, equalling a historic record, after a demanding contest against Daniil Medvedev. The final scoreline of 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, however, does not fully convey the intensity of the match.
The opening set saw Djokovic in comfortable form, but it was the grueling second set that stole the spotlight, lasting a staggering one hour and 44 minutes. After both players exchanged early breaks in the third set, Djokovic took charge, drawing level with Margaret Court’s record that has stood for 50 years.
Djokovic expressed his elation, saying, “It obviously means the world to me. I’m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in this sport, which has given me and my family so much from difficult circumstances. I never thought I would be here, but in the last couple of years, I thought I had a shot at history. Why not grab it when it is presented?”
During that challenging second set, the second-seeded Djokovic appeared physically strained, but he displayed his undeniable greatness to secure his fourth US Open title. Having already surpassed Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 men’s major titles earlier in the year, Djokovic has now matched Australia’s Margaret Court, doing so on his second attempt after a Wimbledon final loss in July.
In 2023, Djokovic has triumphed in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, a feat he has achieved four times, making him the first man to do so. The world number one has the opportunity to surpass Court’s record at the upcoming Australian Open in January, where he has previously claimed a remarkable 10 titles.
Djokovic’s championship point fittingly came after winning another lengthy rally, and despite the crowd’s interruptions, he sealed the victory when Medvedev hit a forehand into the net.
Reflecting on his year, Djokovic said, “I would definitely sign right away the paper if somebody would tell me I would win three out of four and play Wimbledon finals this year. There is a little regret that I didn’t win that Wimbledon final. But, at the end of the day, I have so much more to be happier and content with than actually to regret something.”
