Daniil Medvedev conquers Novak Djokovic to crush Calendar Slam dreams
Novak Djokovic has been denied a 21st Major title and the elusive Calendar Slam as world number two Daniil Medvedev secured his first Slam title.
The world number one fell at the final hurdle on his quest to create history, as Medvedev sealed a maiden Slam title with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Djokovic was aiming to become just the third man ever, and the first since 1969, to claim a Calendar Slam.
The result also means that the Serb remains on 20 Slam titles alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic looked out of sorts for much of the match, as the immense pressure of the occasion was clearly making the Serb nervous.
Medvedev served brilliantly too, losing just three of 23 points behind his serve in the opening set.
Frustrations boiled over for Djokovic early in the second when trying to break the Medvedev serve, obliterating a racket upon after a return.
Don’t try this at home. ⚠️ @DjokerNole | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2lwjlyzUV0
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) September 12, 2021
Two sets up, Medvedev secured a double break to bring himself to the edge of victory.
But serving for the match at 5-2, nerves overcame the Russian, along with untimely crowd interventions putting him off before his motion.
He eventually served out the championship after a little over two hours and 15 minutes on-court, capturing his first Slam title on his third attempt in a final.
Medvedev fell to the court after sealing the victory, capping a tournament where he dropped just one set across seven matches.
He also becomes just the second man born in the 1990s to win a Slam title, after Dominic Thiem became the first at last year’s US Open.
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