There have been 14 earlier tour-level conferences between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, however there could also be just one behind every participant’s thoughts as they step out Sunday on Arthur Ashe Stadium to compete within the US Open championship match.
Medvedev’s straight-sets victory within the 2021 closing at Flushing Meadows just isn’t solely remembered because the second he lifted his maiden main trophy. Along with his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win, he additionally denied Djokovic a historic calendar-year Grand Slam. The 27-year-old just isn’t relying on the same final result this time round.
“I feel the one manner I can use [the 2021 final] is pondering that Novak, when he loses, he is by no means the identical after. He is completely different. It is only a completely different mentality,” mentioned Medvedev on Friday evening after downing high seed Carlos Alcaraz within the semi-finals. “That is why he has 23 Grand Slams, [all those] Masters 1000s and weeks at No. 1.
“So I’ve to make use of it figuring out that he will be 10 occasions higher than he was that day, and I’ve to be, if I need to nonetheless beat him, 10 occasions higher than I used to be that day. That is what I’ll attempt to do.”
Medvedev in motion towards Carlos Alcaraz on Friday in New York. Picture Credit score: Al Bello/Getty Photos
After narrowly lacking out to Alcaraz within the closing at Wimbledon, the calendar-year Grand Slam just isn’t on the road this time round for Djokovic in New York. But his triumphs this 12 months on the Australian Open and Roland Garros, which took him previous Rafael Nadal to a document 23 main males’s singles titles, have positioned him in history-setting territory at each main he enters regardless.
“I perceive each time in a Grand Slam closing, it is one other shot for historical past,” mentioned Djokovic after easing previous #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton within the semi-finals. “I am conscious of it, and naturally I am very happy with it, however I haven’t got a lot time, nor do I enable myself to replicate on this stuff or take into consideration the historical past an excessive amount of on this sense. After I did that previously, just like the 2021 closing right here, I used to be possibly overwhelmed with the event and the chance, and I underperformed.
“I do not need this to occur once more, and I will attempt to simply give attention to what must be completed and tactically put together myself for that match.”
Except for an exhilarating five-set comeback win towards Laslo Djere within the third spherical, Djokovic has cruised to his record-equalling tenth US Open closing this fortnight with out dropping one other set. The 36-year-old’s return recreation has been in significantly tremendous fettle all through and appeared to take care of Shelton’s lefty thunderbolts with ease on Friday. But Medvedev will nonetheless really feel his supply might be the important thing to getting on high of the Serbian as he appears to enhance his 29-5 US Open document.
“I are likely to play aggressive, quick, I serve nicely,” mentioned Medvedev when requested about potential causes behind his robust showings through the years at Flushing Meadows. “In all probability the pace of the courtroom helps me. For instance, Indian Wells, that I acquired to the ultimate was superb, as a result of I mainly cannot hit the ball there. It has nothing to do with my forehand, so I beat some good guys there, some good matches, however as quickly as I acquired somebody like Carlos along with his fashion of play, it was sort of over for me.”
Confronted with an opponent equally as snug settling in for prolonged rallies, Djokovic could look to use Medvedev’s famend deep returning place by shifting ahead to attempt to rating fast factors. The Serbian has loved success towards Medvedev’s distinctive gamestyle prior to now — Djokovic holds a 9-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence lead towards the World No. 3 and has gained 4 of the pair’s 5 earlier tour-level conferences.
Most US Open (Previously US Nationwide Championships) Remaining Appearances Of All Time
Participant
US Open Finals
Invoice Tilden
10
Novak Djokovic
10
William Larned
9
Pete Sampras
8
Ivan Lendl
8
Invoice Johnston
8
Medvedev can look to the latest of these clashes for confidence, nonetheless. The 27-year-old downed the Serbian in straight units within the Dubai semi-finals in February, a win that got here within the midst of a 19-match profitable streak on onerous courts throughout February and March. Once more, nonetheless, Medvedev is cautious of a Djokovic hungry for revenge.
“In opposition to Novak, it is the identical. He’s all the time higher than the earlier time he performs,” mentioned Medvedev, who has solely overwhelmed Djokovic in consecutive matches as soon as (Monte-Carlo & Cincinnati, 2019). “For instance, I beat him within the US Open closing [in 2021]; he beat me in Bercy in an ideal match. Carlos beat him at Wimbledon; [Novak] beat him in Cincinnati.
“Novak goes to be his finest model on Sunday, and I’ve to be the all-time model of myself if I need to attempt to beat him.”
2023 Tour-level Win Leaders On Laborious Courts
Participant
W-L
Daniil Medvedev
38-5
Taylor Fritz
35-10
Jannik Sinner
28-7
Novak Djokovic
26-1
Tommy Paul
26-10
Alex de Minaur
26-11
Djokovic and Medvedev’s focus for Sunday’s closing could also be taking their closing probability for Grand Slam glory this season, however the consequence may also have large implications for the race to complete as year-end No. 1. If Medvedev triumphs, he’ll transfer inside 1000 factors of each the Serbian and Alcaraz within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin, organising an intriguing three-way battle for the ultimate few months of the season.
But stopping Djokovic from profitable three majors in a calendar 12 months for the fourth time will likely be some job: The Serbian, who’s assured to usurp No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Alcaraz on Monday, enters the match with a 26-1 document on the majors this 12 months.
“I’m clearly over the moon with the outcomes to this point on Grand Slams,” mentioned Djokovic. “Taking part in in all 4 finals of all 4 Slams in a season is superb. It is the best achievement I can take into consideration once I begin the season. That is what I dream about, that is what I actually needed, that is the place I need to be, in this sort of place.
“There’s one other match left, so in fact this dialog will likely be in all probability even higher if I win the title. However positively no matter occurs, I am extraordinarily proud and content material with what I’ve achieved this 12 months in Grand Slams.”
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from Tennis – ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/DUPXMjf
