And there are 24! Novak Djokovic, the tennis monster, took the US Open title by defeating world number 3, Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (5) and 6-3 in three hours and 16 minutes of play. With this new title, her fourth at Flushing Meadows, she equals Margaret Court's Grand Slam record, something Serena Williams pursued but failed to do.
After greeting his latest victim in a friendly manner at the net, the legendary tennis player went to give his daughter a hug and then climbed into the stands to celebrate his feat with his family and team in the box. Back on the court, for the trophy presentation, he put on a shirt with the number 24 on the back and the phrase “Mamba Forever” circulating the image of him and Kobe Bryant.
"I thought about making this shirt seven days ago. Kobe was a very good friend. When I had problems with my injury and was trying to come back, he was one of the people I could count on, who helped me the most. What happened a few days ago "The years after his death and that of his daughter affected me a lot. 24 was the number he wore when he became a legend, with the Lakers. And I want to remember him with this 24," he explained on the court.
The 36-year-old tennis player is also the oldest winner of the US Open. “I feel good physically. I'm fit or as fit and strong as, I don't want to say as usual, but I'm better than I've been in years and years. Age is just a number and that saying means a lot to me right now."
As if his joys were not enough, the Serbian also rises to the top of the world rankings, displacing Carlos Alcaraz. This will be Djokovic's 390th week at the top of tennis, more than any other tennis player in history. Federer follows, with 310 weeks.
“At 36 years old, every Grand Slam final could be the last,” the Serbian had said. “I think I value these chances and opportunities to win another Slam more than I did 10 years ago, because then I still felt I had time ahead of me. I don't know how many years I have left to play the big four all season. In other words, I am very aware of the occasion and I am very proud of it.”
The final was like a chess match, in which the duelists, with very similar playing styles, came out with strategies studied from the beginning. Both are capable of defending and eventually turning their defenses into offenses.
It was Djokovic who started with his most aggressive move, snatching the world number three's serve on the first occasion. He could not find the rhythm of Medvedev, who remained from far behind, willing to run and cover the court, to gain a little time when responding to the Serbian's blows. Djokovic won his games with ease, while making the Russian work on each of his serves.
Until then, Daniil Medvedev, who played at a 12 out of 10 level to eliminate Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, had not made an appearance. Every time Daniil missed a ball in the middle of the court, Novak made him pay for it, going up to the net to finish off the point. Otherwise, he would have to engage in long exchanges and that was a risk that did not always end up benefiting the Serbian. But his tactic worked and 48 minutes later he was already up a set.
Little by little Medvedev settled down. The exchanges were still long (up to 36 points!) and many were scored by the Muscovite. He even gave the impression, in a few thousandths of a second, that the veteran was beginning to be low on energy. In the second set, the eighth game was crucial, when partly thanks to two double faults from the Serbian (the first two he committed in the entire match), Medvedev saw his first set point. However, his opponent ended up reaching an almost impossible point, to make deuce. Haranking the public, who responded with shouts of "Nole, Nole", the Serbian phenomenon refueled his tank again. (“I feed off the energy that the fans give me in this stadium,” he often says.)
With two sets to zero, Djokovic was not going to allow Daniil to turn the situation around, as he did in the 2021 final, and after exchanging breaks, Nole got one more, the only thing he needed for the win.
