Novak Djokovic is one of the most decorated tennis players of all time, and is arguably just one Grand Slam title away from being considered the undisputed greatest player ever.
That is why he has continued to play deep into his late 30s, striving to achieve what no other player, male or female, has ever done before.
Throughout a sparkling career, which includes every single elite-level title, he has also suffered plenty of setbacks too.
After all, he competed at the height of an impossibly difficult era, boasting superstars like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
Speaking after his most recent win at the US Open, he was actually asked to speak about the latter of that trio and recall his memories of their epic 2012 final showdown.
Novak Djokovic recalls 2012 US Open final vs Andy Murray
Novak Djokovic began by recalling: “I was two sets to love down. I came back. I played great third and fourth and then lost in the fifth.”
However, he was also keen to relive the semi-finals, where he beat David Ferrer in a match blighted by extraordinary conditions.
The Serbian continued: “In the semifinals, I think I remember that day, I think I lost the first set against Ferrer, where I was double break down, and then something happened that never happened to me or I don’t think to any other player before, which was the evacuation was called.
“We had to evacuate and leave the stadium as soon as possible because there was a tornado emergency. So I just remember that year was super, super windy and difficult to just play overall for anyone.”
Djokovic concluded by summing up his rivalry with Murray, smiling as he noted: “I mean Andy won his first US Open. I was close, but I lost in the fifth. I lost to him in a couple of grand slam finals. I lost to him also in Wimbledon, so he can’t complain!”
In a strange turn of events, these two great rivals actually ended up working together this year, before Djokovic and Murray’s coaching relationship ended in May.
Novak Djokovic’s history with the US Open
Whilst he is arguably the greatest hard-court player of all time, Djokovic’s relationship with the US Open has been a strange one over the years.
After all, he was famously defaulted back in 2020 for striking the ball at a line judge, and has complained about the crowd on occasion.
And yet, he is a four-time champion at the event.
However, he has also suffered his fair share of hefty defeats too, losing in six finals against five different opponents over the years.
His most recent Grand Slam success did come in New York though, which could give him the confidence needed to believe that this will be the site of his record-breaking 25th major title.
If he were to achieve that feat at the US Open, he would draw level with Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors with the joint-most titles in this event’s history.
