Novak Djokovic of Serbia triumphs over Ben Shelton of the United States in an exhilarating Men’s Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2023 US Open. The event, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City, witnessed Djokovic’s celebration of victory. The image captured by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/AFP encapsulates the intensity and emotion of the moment.
Djokovic’s path to the finals pits him against Daniil Medvedev, as he seeks to settle the score after his loss to the Russian in the 2021 final halted his quest for a calendar Grand Slam. Medvedev thwarted Djokovic’s historic achievement by defeating him in straight sets, preventing him from becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slams in a single year. Now, on Sunday, the 36-year-old Djokovic embarks on a quest to secure his 24th Grand Slam singles title, which would equal the all-time record.
However, Djokovic remains cautious and mindful of being overwhelmed by the significance of the occasion. He is well aware that every Grand Slam final represents a shot at making history, and he acknowledges the proud feeling associated with it. Yet, he refuses to dwell on those thoughts or allow them to consume him. He vividly recalls the 2021 final where he underperformed due to feeling overwhelmed by the occasion. Djokovic is determined not to repeat the same mistake and wants to remain focused on the game.
Since his Wimbledon loss to Carlos Alcaraz in July, Djokovic has only suffered one defeat at the majors, a quarterfinal loss to Rafael Nadal at the 2022 French Open. He boasts an impressive record of 33-1 at the Slams since then. Djokovic has already made history by being the first man in the Open era to reach 10 finals at two different Grand Slams. While he maintains a perfect record at the Australian Open, the US Open has witnessed some of his most disappointing moments.
Despite his age, Djokovic believes that “age is just a number.” He feels that he is as physically fit and prepared as ever, maybe even better, and sees no reason to consider retirement as long as he remains at the top of his game.
In the meantime, Medvedev has avenged his previous loss to Alcaraz by defeating him in the gripping semifinal. This victory propels the 27-year-old Russian into his fifth Grand Slam final. Although he lost a five-set classic to Nadal at the US Open in 2019 and suffered defeats to both Djokovic and Nadal at the Australian Open, Medvedev remains confident. He acknowledges Djokovic’s desire to set the record straight after their emotional 2021 encounter. However, Medvedev believes that Novak is never the same after a loss, and he plans to use that to his advantage. To secure victory against Djokovic, Medvedev understands that he needs to deliver a performance that surpasses his previous efforts. He recognizes the need to be at his absolute best to defeat the formidable Serbian.
The stage is set for an epic showdown between Djokovic and Medvedev. The Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City will witness history as these two tennis titans battle it out for glory. Djokovic’s determination to equal the all-time record clashes with Medvedev’s hunger for his first Grand Slam title. With both players at the top of their game, this final promises to be a thrilling spectacle that will leave fans captivated till the last point is won.
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