Novak Djokovic scooped his fourth US Open title on Sunday evening, with the Serb putting Daniil Medvedev to the sword in the final at Flushing Meadows. He managed to beat his Russian opponent in straight sets to win his 24th career Grand Slam and consolidate his status as the undisputed king of men’s tennis.
It was another champion’s performance from Djokovic, with a comfortable opening set followed by a gruelling second which lasted one hour and 44 minutes. He exchanged breaks with Medvedev early in the third but went on to see out the match and secure US Open glory for the first time since 2018.
Speaking in his on-court interview, Djokovic said: “It obviously means the world to me. 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?”
Medvedev feeling ‘completely empty’ after US Open defeat
Daniil Medvedev’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou has announced that the Russian star has withdrawn from this weekend’s UTS event in Frankfurt due to feeling “completely empty” after narrowly missing out on the US Open. The 27-year-old was beaten 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 by Novak Djokovic in the Grand Slam final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium and has been left in a sorry state having come so close to glory.
Djokovic sets sights on Paris 2024
Novak Djokovic is still on the lookout for an elusive Olympic gold medal and hopes 2024 will finally be his year.
“My plan for now is to play the Olympic Games, so I’m hoping that I will be able to play, that I will be ready physically and mentally,” he said.
“It’s going to be a very congested and challenging schedule next year, with Roland Garros on clay, Wimbledon on grass, the Olympics on clay and then the US Open and the tournaments before that on hardcourts.“It’s going to be challenging for players, but my plan is to play the Olympics, because it’s one of the most important events in the history of the sport. That’s where you also represent the country and the feeling of being part of it is a huge honour.”
13 hours ago20:10 George Glinski
United States beaten in Davis Cup Finals
The United States lost to the Netherlands in the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals on Thursday as Frances Tiafoe was beaten by Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3). Botic Van de Zandschulp beat Tommy Paul 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the opening singles match meaning the upcoming doubles match won’t make an impact on the overall result.
14 hours ago19:09 George Glinski
Djokovic reveals whether he misses Nadal and Federer
Novak Djokovic quips that he doesn’t really miss long-time rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The former is set to retire next year while Federer walked away from the sport in 2022.
“I don’t miss them, but I’m sure tennis misses them,” he joked.
“These two are legends of our sport. They left a very great legacy both in tennis and in sports in general.”
Scientist delivers results of Halep tests
A scientist who analyzed a hair sample from Simona Halep has disputed her ban from tennis. The former World No. 1 shook the sport to its core when it was announced she has been suspended four years due to two breaches of the Anti-Doping program.
The 31-year-old tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat after the 2022 US Open and had irregularities in her biological passport. Halep will appeal the decision and the testimony of professor Jean-Claude Alvarez may help her case.
“You’d think you were dreaming,” he told the French newspaper L’Equipe. “Right now, we’re condemning an innocent woman. We’re making a mistake. Given the concentration she has in her hair, it’s not possible for her to be taking roxadustat effectively.”
16 hours ago16:46 George Glinski
Djokovic defends Alcaraz’s Davis Cup abscence
Novak Djokovic has defended Carlos Alcaraz’s decision to skip the Davis Cup. The Spaniard has decided not to play at the international tournament due to mental and physical fatigue following a hectic tennis schedule.
“Maybe you guys are upset he’s not playing for Spain, because he’s 20 years old and I’m 36, and how he’s tired and I’m not,” said Djokovic.
“It’s important to understand he’s got a lot of time ahead of him.”
Federer’s kids attend Nadal academy
Roger Federer has revealed that he sends his kids to Rafael Nadal’s academy.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he said: “All four kids love it. The girls didn’t love it in the beginning but as they get better, they’re enjoying it and playing points now.
“They were up at [John] McEnroe Academy in East Hampton, and the boys were in Mallorca at the [Rafael Nadal] camp for a couple of days.”
Federer’s kids attend Nadal academy
Roger Federer has revealed that he sends his kids to Rafael Nadal’s academy.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he said: “All four kids love it. The girls didn’t love it in the beginning but as they get better, they’re enjoying it and playing points now.
“They were up at [John] McEnroe Academy in East Hampton, and the boys were in Mallorca at the [Rafael Nadal] camp for a couple of days.”
Davis Cup set for major change
Davis Cup chief Dietloff von Arnim has insisted that major changes to the tournament could be made amid a lack of attendance so far this year.
Plenty of empty seats have set the scene that has resulted in criticism from fans and players, but Von Arnim believes that an overhaul could be imminent.
“From what I heard, the first day was the same in all four countries. I talked to France on Tuesday and they said it was sad, the atmosphere of a Futures tournament, and I think everybody saw [Stan] Wawrinka,” Von Arnim told City A.M.
“With the Davis Cup we will have a wider issue for sure and we have to think about it. We now have to really watch the economics, which were the basis of the decision to change, and secondly the format. I would say it’s one of the major issues that we need to solve in the short term.”
21 hours ago11:26 Jack McEachen
Gauff coach makes Murray comparison
US Open champion Coco Gauff’s coach has insisted that critiques of her forehand are not necessary, pointing out that Andy Murray could not change his technique overnight.
Brad Gilbert, who used to work with the Brit but now coaches Gauff, has responded to claims that the American’s forehand needs to be improved on.
“You can’t just change a grip without changing the arc of the swing, so that’s a big change. My guess is, from what we’ve seen, we don’t need to,” he said.
“I never got so many texts for so many days, saying ‘Fix her forehand!’ Man, you don’t just fix something like that on the fly.
“When I started with Andy Murray, everybody was telling me, ‘He’s just a pusher.’ And yet he wins. Everybody mentions the forehand criticism about Coco, and yet she wins. I’m certainly not worried about it in any way, shape or form.”
Kyrgios slams Halep
Nick Kyrgios has blasted Simona Halep after the Romanian tennis star recently received a four-year ban following breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
After Halep claimed that the procedure is “scary” and “stressful” Kyrgios took issue and went to social media to voice his frustrations.
“Ehhhh not really lol, I run on bananas and coke cola in five-set battles,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “And my record in them speaks for itself.
“Maybe players should just stop taking shady s***. look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say, ‘yep I did it right’. Not hard.”
