Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of tennis history at the 2021 US Open ended in heartbreak, as he fell to Daniil Medvedev in the final. The Serbian star’s bid to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slams in a calendar year was thwarted by the Russian’s clinical performance.
Djokovic, 34, entered the tournament as the heavy favorite, having won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon earlier in the year. However, he faced an unexpected challenge from Medvedev, who had never reached a Grand Slam final before.
The Russian, 25, played with poise and precision, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the first game of the match and never looking back. Medvedev won the first set 6-4 and continued to dominate in the second, breaking Djokovic again and taking it 6-4.
Djokovic showed signs of frustration in the third set, smashing his racquet after failing to break Medvedev’s serve. The crowd, which had been cheering for Djokovic throughout the tournament, turned on him briefly, showering him with boos.
Undeterred, Medvedev kept his foot on the gas, breaking Djokovic’s serve again in the first game of the third set and building a 5-2 lead. Djokovic managed to hold serve for 4-5, but Medvedev closed out the match with a service-return error by Djokovic.
The final score was 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in a match that lasted just over two hours. Medvedev’s victory marked his first Grand Slam title and ended Djokovic’s hopes of making history.
Despite the disappointment, Djokovic praised Medvedev’s performance, acknowledging that he was “hitting his spots very well.” He also expressed gratitude to the crowd for their support, saying that he had never felt so loved on a tennis court before.
