Step 7 of 7 to the Grand Slam: Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev
Novak Djokovic is only missing one victory to reach the calendar grand slam. Daniil Medvedev can annoy him in the final of the US Open 2021. But also stop?
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 12, 2021, 12:22 am
When Novak Djokovic puts his right index finger behind the corresponding ear, the industry leader usually gets what he wants: loud affection from the fans. Djokovic does not have the signal and the wish exclusively, but after the world number one never goes into a game as an outsider, Djokovic sometimes has to ask again. It is interesting that the rallies of applause during the night sessions grew the longer Djokovic played. By the middle of the second set at the latest, he had opponents like Jenson Brooksby and Matteo Berrettini so under control that their supporters had started their way home a little earlier than the fans of Djokovic.
Nothing like that is to be expected in the final against Daniil Medvedev, after all, there is a chapter in sports history. A big one if Novak Djokovic wins. A small one, Medvedev should get his first major title. The Russian has long since come to terms with the New York audience, handing over the role of the bad boy to Stefanos Tsitsipas with thanks and without much effort.
Djokovic too strong for Medvedev in Melbourne
Now Daniil Medvedev has shown convincing performances on the way to the final, but the draw and the course of the tournament were also favorable to him. As number two in the world, you're always happy to take a quarter-final against a qualifier like Botic van des Zandschulp. All the more astonishing that Medvedev almost let the Dutchman back into the match after two deliberately led first sets. In the semifinals against Félix Auger-Aliassime, it was the second set that the Canadian should have won.
Medvedev cannot afford such periods of weakness against Djokovic. In Melbourne at the beginning of the year there were indications that the Muscovite could make serious claims for the title. Unfortunately, Novak Djokovic hadn't told anyone about this, Nole pulled Daniil off after a brief first sentence, shapely and humorless. The record with 5: 3 wins for Djokovic doesn't look so clear, but the truth is also: The man from Belgrade has won the two previous five-set matches without any major problems. And how did Novak Djokovic put it after his victory against Alexander Zverev: He will play this match as if it were his last ever.
Here the single tableau in New York
nycmap