And then in the end, the U.S. Open spotlight was right back on the old man who made history. Back on Novak Djokovic, who has emerged from being a part of the Big Three equation to stand alone on top of the tennis universe.
The 36-year-old Serb took a record-equaling 24th singles Grand Slam title by outlasting Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in a test of will over 3 hours 17 minutes in Sunday’s final under the closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic matched the mark set by Margaret Court, who won 13 of her titles before the Open era commenced in 1968.
Djokovic — who has won seven of the last 10 slams in which he has competed since 2021 while advancing to the final in two others — took complete control of this tournament by winning his final 15 sets after going down 0-2 to countryman Laslo Djere in Round 3.
Let’s add some context to this achievement. Those seven major titles alone gained after his 32/33-year-old season would place him in a tie for 14th on the all-time list. That is as many Grand Slams as John McEnroe won in his career.
“There are always changes nearly on a weekly basis on my approach to training, to recovery, to mental training. There is always something I am trying to add to up my performance and my game,” Djokovic said while wearing a pullover emblazed with a ‘24’ logo. “It is a constant process of trying to get better. You need to reinvent yourself because everyone else does.
“And as a 36-year old competing with 20-year-olds, I probably have to do more than ever. Maybe you can call me a perfectionist. I know I’m not the only one, I know there are a lot of great champions that thrive on this approach to perfect themselves, on and on. That’s why LeBron James still keeps going at his age [38], or Tom Brady.
“Greats like that are inspiring.”
Two years ago, Djokovic came to Queens with the chance to become the second man in the Open era to win the Grand Slam. Only Rod Laver in 1969 had done it. Medvedev spoiled the party with a straight-sets victory.
But he could not turn back Djokovic this time in a match that featured 54 rallies of nine shots or more and a demanding second set that lasted for an hour and 44 minutes. He could not stem the tide of history this time.
That second set was determinative. It was the one over which the gracious Medvedev said he would have “regrets.” It was the one in which Djokovic often seemed to be out on his feet. It was the one in which the champion was flat on his back behind the baseline following a 31-shot rally in the seventh game that ended with Djokovic netting a backhand. There were other occasions on which the Serb was wobbly as he bent over to catch his breath.
He looked for a time, done and doner.
“I don’t think I’ve played a longer set in my life,” Djokovic said. “He was probably the better player in that set. But somehow I managed to turn it around in the tiebreak. After that I regained my energy.”
You know who Djokovic was in that set? He was the great running back Jim Brown, who after essentially every carry would lay on the ground as if his body had been broken. It took an interminable amount of time for the Browns’ No. 32 to make his way back to the huddle.
Before, on the next play, bulling through the line and running over and through the defense for a 75-yard touchdown.
No one would beat Brown in a test of endurance. No one would beat Brown in a test of will. These are the same qualities embodied in Djokovic, who celebrated his historic feat without histrionics, simply raising his arm. He celebrated as if he had been there before.
And before and before and before and before that.
Once there were celebrated rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. Now, there is a burgeoning rivalry with 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who denied Djokovic’s try at a 2023 Grand Slam with his victory over Djokovic in the final at Wimbledon. Now there is someone like 20-year-old Ben Shelton to conquer.
No one seems to be gaining on him.
“I did play three epic matches with Alcaraz this year and that’s why there is discussion of this rivalry,” said Djokovic, who will regain No. 1 ranking on Monday for a record 390th week, 80 more than Federer. “I think it’s great for our sport that we have another very good rivalry. There are great players in that generation like [Janik] Sinner, [Holger] Runne, [Alexander] Zverev, Medvedev.
“You know, players come and go. It will be the same kind of destiny for me. Eventually I’ll leave tennis in about 23 or 24 years.”
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