Novak Djokovic on Sunday night equalled Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 Grand Slams after defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 to claim the U.S. Open.
The victory, his fourth in 10 Flushing Meadows finals, capped another remarkable Grand Slam campaign for Djokovic with wins at the Australian, French and U.S. Opens and a return to the top of the world rankings when they are updated on Monday.
With this feat, Djokovic becomes the oldest U.S. Open men’s winner in the Open Era and the first to win three Grand Slam events in a season for the fourth time.
The second seed walked out on to 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 U.S. Open was in the 2021 final, when the Russian captured his only major and denied the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam. While Djokovic and Medvedev are intriguing figures, neither has been fully embraced by the New York crowds.
“It obviously means the world to me,” said Djokovic on winning his 24th major.
“I’m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in this sport, which has given me and my family so much from difficult circumstances.
“I never thought I would be here but the last couple of years I thought I had a shot at history. Why not grab it when it is presented?”
Second seed Djokovic looked physically troubled in that gruelling second set, but showed all the hallmarks of his greatness to win a fourth US Open title.
Djokovic, who surpassed Rafael Nadal’s record tally of 22 men’s major titles earlier this year, has matched Australia’s Court at the second attempt after losing the Wimbledon final in July.
