From the day the men’s singles draw was announced, the path for Novak Djokovic to reach another US Open final seemed clear and seemed set for a showdown with Carlos Alcaraz in a repeat of this year’s Wimbledon final would have been.
This US Open men’s final will see a rematch – just not between Djokovic and Alcaraz. Daniil Medvedev of Russia, after defeating Alcaraz in four sets on Friday evening, will play Djokovic for the championship on Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern time.
It will be a rematch of the 2021 US Open final, which Medvedev won and stopped Djokovic from completing a calendar Grand Slam this year.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s game:
Djokovic and Medvedev took different paths to the final.
On paper, it looks like Djokovic has fought his way to the championship game. He won five of his six matches in straight sets. But he faced some formidable obstacles along the way. In the third round, Djokovic ran into trouble when he lost the first two sets to Laslo Djere, a fellow Serbian. But Djokovic managed to reclaim the victory and ended the match at around 1:30
In the quarterfinals, Djokovic faced Taylor Fritz, the top-ranked American, and in the semifinals, he faced Ben Shelton, a rising young American.
The road to the final was a little bumpier for Medvedev than for Djokovic. Two of Medvedev’s matches were pushed to four sets, in the second round against Christopher O’Connell and again in the fourth round against Alex de Minaur.
Medvedev’s toughest opponent came in Friday’s semifinals when he played Alcaraz. After the first set ended in a tiebreak, it seemed like fans were in for a long night. But Medvedev won the second set comfortably 6:1. Alcaraz won the third game but could not gain any more traction and sent Medvedev to the final.
Medvedev was the spoilsport in 2021.
Medvedev and Djokovic have already been in a US Open final. Two years ago, Djokovic wanted to complete the Grand Slam calendar after winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon in one year (he also took part in the Tokyo Olympics that year, but failed to win a medal and lost thus his chance of winning). a Golden Slam).
All Djokovic needed to complete the Grand Slam was victory at the US Open.
But Medvedev spoiled the party. Medvedev won the 2021 US Open final in straight sets, stopping Djokovic from completing the calendar slam.
The game was bizarre at times and Djokovic showed emotions that fans are not used to. At one point in the third set, Djokovic covered his face with a towel and then appeared to cry and shake, a sign of how much completing the Calendar Slam meant to him.
Medvedev said on Friday that Djokovic finds ways to improve after defeats, making this year’s final more difficult.
“If he loses, he will never be the same,” said Medvedev, looking ahead to the 2021 final. “He will be ten times better than he was that day, and if I want to beat him, I have to be ten times better than he was that day. “
Djokovic leads their head-to-head race.
Djokovic and Medvedev have played each other 14 times, and Djokovic came out on top with nine wins. Their last duel came in March at a tournament in Dubai, which Medvedev won 6-4, 6-4.
While Medvedev managed to thwart Djokovic’s chance of the 2021 Grand Slam, Medvedev admitted on Friday evening that it won’t be easy to play against Djokovic.
“Novak will be his best version on Sunday,” Medvedev said. “And I have to be the best version of myself if I want to try to beat him.”
Djokovic is looking for No. 24.
Every time Djokovic plays in a Grand Slam final, there is a chance of history unfolding. With 23 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has overtaken Rafael Nadal with 22 and Roger Federer with 20.
With Federer now retired and Nadal out due to injury, Djokovic has the chance to distance himself from his colleagues in the Big Three of men’s tennis. But Djokovic said Friday night that he tried not to focus too much on the numbers.
“I’m aware of it and of course I’m very proud of it,” he said. “But again, I don’t have much time and I don’t allow myself to think about these things.”
Djokovic recalled similar historic weight when he lost the 2021 US Open final and said he didn’t want something like that to happen again.
“I’ll try to just focus on what needs to be done and prepare tactically for this game,” he said.
Keep an eye on Medvedev’s return position.
Those who have focused more on players like Frances Tiafoe, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton this tournament may have one big question in mind when they watch Medvedev play: Why does he stand so far from the baseline to return serves ?
It may seem like a disadvantage for Medvedev, but he uses the position to his advantage. By standing so far from the baseline, sometimes as much as 20 feet, Medvedev gives himself more time to return the serve. He also uses the tactic as a tool to strengthen his positioning during the point itself; By starting well behind the baseline, he almost guarantees that he will progress as the point develops.
Of course, the strategy has its disadvantages. By standing so far back and taking more time, Medvedev frees up more space on the court and gives his opponents more time to get into an advantageous position for their next shot after serving.