He saw Djokovic push a forehand wide on match point and broke back to force a tie-break, only for Djokovic to ramp up the intensity again before taking his second match point.#3 NYE VERBOTEN – MAYA COLES. The world number 47 created a set point at 5-4 which Djokovic saved with a pinpoint service winner, before a sloppy game allowed Djokovic to strike for 6-5. Winning in straight sets looked a formality for the 23-time major champion until Shelton found his best level of the match to break back for 4-4. Shelton made a trip to the locker room in a bid to change the dynamic, but two double faults led to Djokovic breaking in the first game with a superb passing winner. The second seed enforced his quality and experience from the start, serving smartly and returning Shelton's biggest weapon well before intensifying the pressure.ĭjokovic remained utterly calm and controlled to quieten the home crowd, further flattening the mood at the start of the third set. With Djokovic's technique, mentality and athleticism showing few signs of weakening, Shelton was the latest young pretender to be taught a lesson. In the past five seasons, Djokovic has lost only eight of the 53 matches he has played against opponents under the age of 23.Īt Wimbledon, Alcaraz was only the second player younger than Djokovic - after Medvedev at the 2021 US Open - to beat him in a major final since 2020. To beat him you need to be better than yourself and I managed to do it." Djokovic teaches another lesson to another youngster Novak Djokovic is aiming to become the oldest US Open men's singles champion in the Open eraĪ sign of Djokovic's greatness has been his ability to dominate much younger opponents on the biggest stages over recent years. I played 12 out of 10, except from the third set," said Medvedev, who will contest his third US Open final in five years. "I said I needed to play 11 out of 10 against Carlos. Getting over the line was not a simple task, Medvedev double faulting twice after missing a match point, before he landed three timely first serves to help secure victory. Medvedev saved three break points for a 2-1 lead and took Alcaraz's serve in a pivotal sixth game lasting more than 13 minutes. The 27-year-old has proved he can thrive on the North American hard courts, particularly when he dominated the swing in 2019 before losing to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final and two years later when he landed his maiden major title.īefore facing Alcaraz in the last four, the Russian said he needed to play "11 out of 10" to beat the top seed.Īnd so he did in the opening two sets, sticking in the rallies to draw errors out of Alcaraz and dominating his service games on his way to a commanding lead.Īlcaraz, backed by a lot of Spanish fans in the crowd, clawed a set back as his continual moves forward paid off.īut he was still unable to reach his highest level with Medvedev, rock solid from the baseline and showing sharp anticipation, superb in all facets. One man with the outstanding pedigree to stop that happening was Medvedev. Going into the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, most people predicted Alcaraz and Djokovic would continue their developing rivalry by meeting once again in a major final.
Medvedev played '12 out of 10' to beat Alcaraz
"These are the matches and occasions I thrive on, they inspire me every day to keep working as hard as the young guys," said Djokovic, who, for the third time in his career, has reached every Grand Slam final in a year. However, he has now has reached a 10th US Open final on his return and will aim for a fourth triumph on Sunday.ĭjokovic reacted by mimicking Shelton's celebration of picking up a phone - to indicate he was dialled in - and slamming it down. Medvedev regained his composure in a tense finish to serve out victory, taking a fourth match point to win a captivating contest which left most of the 24,000 crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium on their feet.ĭjokovic lost to Medvedev in the 2021 final and was not allowed to enter the United States for last year's tournament because he was unvaccinated against Covid-19. The Serb, 36, won 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to close in on Margaret Court's tally.Īlcaraz, 20, prevented Djokovic levelling Court when they met at the All England Club in July and Russian third seed Medvedev, who won his sole major at Flushing Meadows two years ago, could do the same on Sunday. Djokovic swatted aside young American Ben Shelton to move within one more win of a record-equalling 24th major title.
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