Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev in the US Open men's final to match Margaret Court's all-time record haul of 24 Grand Slam titles; He is now two clear of Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam crowns and four ahead of Roger Federer, who retired on 20 last year
Monday 11 September 2023 15:12, UK
Novak Djokovic made history on Sunday by winning his fourth US Open and record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets victory against Daniil Medvedev.
For Djokovic, his 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory against Medvedev marked his fourth title in New York to become the oldest US Open champion in the Open Era.
The 36-year-old Serb, who is back to world No 1, won his third Grand Slam title of the year having won the Australian Open and French Open with his only blemish coming in an epic five-set defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
Djokovic, who wore a tracksuit top adorned with the number 24 and 'Mamba Forever' as a tribute to the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, who wore that jersey number, said: "I don't know where to start, it obviously means the world to me. I'm really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in a sport that has given me and my family so much.
"I never imagined I would be standing here talking about 24 Slams. But the last couple of years I felt I had a chance, a shot at history, so why not grab it?
"I thought of doing this T-shirt, eventually, if I get the chance to win the tournament," Djokovic continued. "Kobe was a close friend, we chatted a lot about the winner's mentality.
"When I was struggling with injury he was one of the people I relied on the most. He was always there for any kind of counsel, advice. I thought 24 is the jersey that he wore when he became a legend of Lakers and world basketball."
Djokovic walked out onto a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday and stared across the net at Medvedev the man once again standing between him and history just as he had two years ago.
The last time the two clashed at the US Open was in the 2021 final, when the Russian captured his only major and denied the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam.
A Medvedev double-fault and a blistering backhand winner down the line gave Djokovic the early break point which he converted to love to subsequently take the first set in a relatively speedy 48 minutes.
The match hinged on a marathon second set lasting 104 minutes, which was longer than both players' entire first-round matches.
Djokovic would later describe the set as "one of the longest sets" of his life.
"That was probably the hardest - physically gruelling set - I've ever played," he told CBS on Monday morning.
"And that was probably key to the match - I was two sets up or one set all - it makes a significant difference.
Medvedev, returning a long way behind the baseline, made Djokovic toil and it began to show with the favourite showing signs of fatigue.
After an hour and three quarters he produced his first break point of the match but Djokovic, with an obvious change of game plan in a bid to shorten the points, expertly snuffed it out with a big serve and an immaculate volley.
Medvedev had set point on the Djokovic serve but another volley at the net dealt with that, and when tie-break slipped away from the 27-year-old, the match soon followed.
Medvedev said: "First of all I want to ask Novak what are you still doing here? I mean come on.
"I don't know when you are planning to slow down a little bit. I feel like I have a good career, I have 20 titles, but you have 24 Grand Slams. Wow!"
Speaking to Sky Sports, analyst Tim Henman said: "We talk about his 24th Grand Slam and you just don't feel like it's going to be his last. The hunger is there, the desire and fitness."
Navratilova said: "He's not done yet. Really amazing stuff. He just played the big points better and had a better game plan. Medvedev never adjusted and the second set was the match.
"Somebody is going to have to play great tennis to beat him. Medvedev wasn't able to play his best stuff.
"He's the consummate professional, always has been, and has the talent that goes with it. All the ingredients are there and the technology.
"He surrounds himself with people that know what he's doing and he keeps thriving to get better. That's what I really admire him the most, he still wants to get better."
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Highlights of matches will be available across Sky Sports TV and our social media platforms.
Video highlights will also be available on the Sky Sports website and app, where there will also be a daily live text commentary on the Sky Sports website and app, as well as live scores, reports, analysis and features.
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