Preview (by way of Reuters)
Novak Djokovic in opposition to Daniil Medvedev within the U.S. Open males’s closing might not have been the showdown followers had been dreaming of but it surely might nonetheless deliver the Grand Slam season to a spellbinding conclusion on Sunday.
For weeks the tennis world was buzzing about seeing the crimson scorching rivalry between Djokovic and holder Carlos Alcaraz within the Flushing Meadows closing till Medvedev performed the spoiler with an excellent 7-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 semifinal win over the Spaniard.
But what a closing between former U.S. Open champion Medvedev and three-time winner Djokovic might lack in pizzazz it greater than makes up for in pure high quality with the world’s two greatest onerous courtroom gamers going toe-to-toe on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
US Open: When and the place to look at?
The US Open closing between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev is scheduled to start out at 1:30 AM IST on Monday and can be telecast on Sony Sports community whereas the dwell streaming can be accessible on Sony Liv.
The contest additionally comes with some spicy sub plots as Djokovic hunts a fourth U.S. Open that will see him equal Margaret Court’s report haul of 24 Grand Slams and, together with it, an excellent measure of revenge in opposition to Medvedev.
On Sunday the Serb will look throughout the online on the similar man standing between him and historical past as he did two years in the past.
The final time Djokovic and Medvedev clashed on the U.S. Open was within the 2021 closing, when the Russian captured his solely main to this point and denied the Serb a uncommon calendar Grand Slam.
It is a loss Djokovic has not forgotten and has discovered from.
“Every time in a Grand Slam final it’s another shot for history and I’m aware of it,” stated Djokovic, who will reclaim prime spot on the planet rankings on Monday.
“I don’t have a lot time nor do I permit myself to mirror on this stuff or take into consideration the historical past an excessive amount of.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Played: 14 | Djokovic: 9 | Medvedev: 5
2023 Dubai, Semifinals: Medvedev received 6-4, 6-4
2023 Adelaide, Semifinals: Djokovic received 6-3, 6-4
2022 ATP Finals, Round Robin: Djokovic received 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(2)
2022 Astana, Semifinals: Djokovic received 4-6, 7-6(6), retd.
2021 Paris, Final: Djokovic received 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2021 US Open, Final: Medvedev received 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
2021 Australian Open, Final: Djokovic received 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
2020 ATP Finals, Round Robin: Medvedev received 6-3, 6-3
2020 ATP Cup, Semifinals: Djokovic received 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
2019 Cincinnati, Semifinals: Medvedev received 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
2019 Monte Carlo, Quarterfinals: Medvedev received 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
2019 Australian Open, Round of 16: Djokovic received 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3
2017 Eastbourne, Semifinal: Djokovic received 6-4, 6-4
2017 Davis Cup, Round Robin: Djokovic received 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-0, retd.
“When I did that in the past, like, ‘21 finals (against Medvedev) here I was maybe overwhelmed with the occasion and the opportunity and I underperformed.
“I don’t want this to happen again.”
EARLIER TESTS
Medvedev and Djokovic have each been examined en path to the ultimate.
Second seed Djokovic, 36, fought again from two units all the way down to beat fellow Serb Laslo Djere within the third spherical however didn’t drop one other set on the way in which to his tenth U.S. Open closing.
Medvedev has spent a lot of time working the graveyard shift at Flushing Meadows with a number of of his matches beginning late within the night sooner or later and ending within the subsequent.
READ – How many Grand Slam matches has Novak Djokovic received from two-sets-to-love down?
The third seed’s hardest bodily check got here within the quarterfinals when he beat his daughter’s godfather Andrey Rublev in straight units in brutal warmth and humidity.
Medvedev stated he needed to elevate his degree to 12 out of 10 within the semi-finals to dethrone Alcaraz and would want to do the identical or higher in opposition to Djokovic.
“He (Djokovic) is always better than the previous time he plays,” stated 27-year-old Medvedev, who can be showing in his third U.S. Open closing, having additionally misplaced to Rafa Nadal in 2019.
“Novak is going to be his best version on Sunday and I have to be the best-ever version of myself if I want to try to beat him.
“Novak, when he loses, he’s never the same after. He’s different. So I have to use it knowing that he’s going to be 10 times better than he was that day.
“And I have to be, if I want to still beat him, 10 times better than I was that day.”
While Djokovic and Medvedev are compelling figures, neither has been absolutely embraced by the New York crowds they’ve so desperately courted.
Not way back Medvedev was Flushing Meadows’ public enemy primary for his on courtroom antics that included giving the gang the finger throughout a 2019 match.
Over the years Djokovic has had a love/hate relationship with New Yorkers that reached a low level throughout a 2020 match when he in a match of frustration he inadvertently hit a line choose within the throat with a ball and was disqualified.
“At the end of the day, they buy tickets to come watch you play,” stated Djokovic. “So we try to put on a show and perform for them so they go back home satisfied.”
Road to closing for Medvedev
Semifinal: 7-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
Quarterfinal: 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in opposition to Andrey Rublev (Russia)
Round of 16: 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in opposition to Alex de Minaur (Australia)
Round of 32: 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(6) in opposition to Sebastian Baez (Argentina)
Round of 64: 6-2, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-2 in opposition to Christopher O’Connell (Australia)
Round of 128: 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 in opposition to Attila Balazs (Hungary)
Road to closing for Djokovic
Semifinal: 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) in opposition to Ben Shelton (USA)
Quarterfinal: 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in opposition to Taylor Fritz (USA)
Round of 16: 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in opposition to Borna Gojo (Croatia)
Round of 32: 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in opposition to Laslo Djere (Serbia)
Round of 64: 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in opposition to Bernabe Zapata Miralles (Spain)
Round of 128: 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in opposition to Alexandre Muller (France)
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com