Novak Djokovic to make history ‘we will never see again in our lives’ says Dominic Thiem

Defending champion Dominic Thiem believes history will be made in the men’s US Open final between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. 

The Austrian star, who missed the US Open due to a wrist injury, believes the world number one is the favourite against his Russian opponent in Sunday’s final.

Should Djokovic win, he will become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the Calendar Slam and will overtake both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who currently sit on 20 Major titles.

“I can image there is such a huge pressure. Something none of us can even image,” Dominic Thiem told Eurosport.

“Winning one Grand Slam was such a huge effort and big pressure but the calendar Slam is unique and I wasn’t born the last time it happened in men’s tennis. That shows what an achievement that is.

Thiem believes that once Djokovic has his eye on a target, he has the mental fortitude to achieve it and expects the Serbian to make history.

“He [Djokovic] is still the favourite for this tournament. He was the only one with a Slam title left in the draw [at the semi-final stage]. He has this target in mind and will do everything he can to reach it.

“I would like to be in his shoes and experience that, but I would prefer to be in my shoes to stop him doing that. Either we see a great young player winning their first Slam, or we see absolute history.

“Right now, it’s probable we will witness history that we will never see again in our lives. It’s the chance of a century and we should be grateful for that.”

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