Daniil Medvedev captured the first major title of his career while denying Novak Djokovic the Calendar Grand Slam following a…
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Magnificent Daniil Medvedev claims US Open crown to deny Djokovic Calendar Grand Slam
Medvedev dropped just one set on the way to capturing the US Open crown.
Daniil Medvedev captured the first major title of his career while denying Novak Djokovic the Calendar Grand Slam following a straight-sets victory in the US Open final.
The inspired second seed became only the fourth Russian to triumph at Flushing Meadows – after Marat Safin, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova – following his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 success.
Meanwhile, an uncharacteristically lacklustre Djokovic missed out on the opportunity to become only the second male of the Open Era – after Rod Laver in 1969 – to win all four Slams in the same calendar year.
The world number one also remains locked on 20 major titles after seeing the chance to leapfrog Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal go begging.
Runner-up to Nadal here in 2019, Medvedev had dropped just a single set on the way to reaching his second final on Ashe.
The second seed capitalised on a nervy start by three-time champion Djokovic, who surrendered a 40-15 lead in the opening game before a couple of unforced errors cost him an early break of serve.
It was a crucial one too as the first set went with serve, with Medvedev holding to love in game 10 to edge his nose in front.
Losing the opening set for the fifth match running, Djokovic was clearly struggling and his frustration boiled over midway through the second; the world number one smashing his racket and receiving a warning from the umpire.
His opponent broke in the fifth game on the way to opening up a two-set advantage on Ashe.
Djokovic recovered from losing the first two sets to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open final back in June.
But his hopes of repeating that feat were fading fast as Medvedev broke twice and hit his 14th ace of the contest to open a commanding 4-0 advantage in the third.
The world number two set up Championship point in game eight but, incredibly, hit successive double-faults as Djokovic somehow managed to cling onto faint aspirations of emulating Laver 52 years earlier.
However, Medvedev made no mistake in his next service game and that maiden Slam was secured when the top seed sent a desperate backhand slice into the tape.
