The setting was Flushing Meadows, in Queens, one of the five boroughs of New York City, and the placement for the events was history. Novak Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title tonight in a match that many felt was far more closely contested than the straight-sets score may have indicated. Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to capture the US Open in front of an audience that was in awe of Djokovic’s great performance.
“I never imagined that I would be here standing with you talking about 24 Slams. I never thought that would be the reality,” Djokovic stated. “But the last couple of years, I felt I have a chance, I have a shot for history, and why not grab it if it’s presented?”
According to ESPN, Djokovic has now won titles at exactly one third of the majors he has played in (24 titles in 72 major appearances). He moved one major singles title ahead of Serena Williams to become the first player to win 24 in the Open era. Margaret Court also collected a total of 24, but 13 of those came before professionals were admitted to the Slam events.
“It obviously means the world to me,” said Djokovic, who will return to No. 1 in the rankings on Monday. It will mark his 390th week at No. 1, the most by any player in ATP or WTA rankings history.
This was Medvedev’s fifth Grand Slam final and he is now 1-4, with two losses to Djokovic and two to Rafael Nadal. The one victory? That came against Djokovic in the 2021 final at Flushing Meadows, stopping a bid for the first men’s calendar-year Grand Slam in more than a half-century.
Djokovic’s fourth championship in New York, where he was unable to compete a year ago because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19, goes alongside his 10 trophies from the Australian Open, seven from Wimbledon and three from the French Open, extending his lead on the men’s Slam list. Nadal, sidelined since January with a hip problem, is next with 22; Roger Federer, who announced his retirement a year ago, finished his legendary career with 20.
