The moment is finally here. After months of anticipation, what started in February and carried through May, June and July, has its end game on Sunday. The only question is: Will it happen?
Can Novak Djokovic win the calendar Grand Slam?
It has been 33 years since a singles player won all four Grand Slams in a season. The last to do it was Steffi Graf in 1988; the last man was Rod Laver, in 1969. It’s an elusive feat. Not many have even come close. Since Graf, there was just Serena Williams in 2015; however, she lost in the semifinals to unseeded Roberta Vinci.
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That’s not all on the line when the World No. 1 enters his final match at the 2021 US Open against Daniil Medvedev. The 34-year-old Serbian star needs one win to break a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most all-time men’s singles Grand Slam wins. They are tied at 20.
Djokovic won’t have a walkover against No. 2 Medvedev in the final. The Russian will be playing in his third career Grand Slam final, having lost to Nadal in the 2019 U.S. Open final and to Djokovic at the 2021 Australian Open in January. Overall, Djokovic holds a 5-3 record against the 25-year-old Medvedev.
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Saturday’s women’s final was also historic, as the first qualifier — man or woman — won a Grand Slam tournament when Emma Raducanu captured the title. Will there be more history made on Sunday?
Sporting News had all the action as Djokovic goes for not one but two historic feats at the 2021 US Open final.
MORE: Watch the US Open live with fuboTV (7-day trial)
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (2) Daniil Medvedev
Match results, highlights from 2021 US Open men’s final
Second set
Medvedev leads 3-2
A double fault, a missed forehand, a slice backhand, where he doesn’t move his feet, goes into the net and Medvedev has two break point chances. Djokovic saves one with a good serve that Medvedev returns long but on the next one he stabs at the volley at his feet and sends it wild.
Tied 2-2
A long rally but Djokovic sends forehand out, and Medvedev has a chance to level the set. Medvedev responds and sends the next point wide and it is deuce. Break point chance for Djokovic as Medvedev sends the backhander down the line wide.
Let is called as music plays during the point at the stadium and Djokovic is not happy. Medvedev saves things with a great drop volley. Djokovic is 0-for-4 on break point chances but get another chance — and Medvedev saves it again with a backhander down the line Djokovic has trouble handling.
On the next point, Djokovic has trouble with the Medvedev serve and absolutely demolishes his racquet. He can’t handle the serve on the ad side too and the set is tied.
Djokovic leads 2-1
Chance to break for Medvedev but Djokovic saves it with a big first serve he can’t get back. On his second chance to close out the game, Djokovic finishes things off with two slams, the second into the open court. Djokovic coming in a lot is 12-for-14 for net points won.
Tied 1-1
The crowd starting to get behind Djokovic — they want a five-setter? — as he gets three break points opportunities. Medvedev gets two back thanks to a great forehand approach shot winner and an ace. He staves off the third one as Djokovic hits the slice backhand into the net for deuce. Ace No. 10 and another serve down the T that Djokovic can’t return on the court levels the set for Medvedev. Great hold by the Russian.
Djokovic leads 1-0
Djokovic starts off the second set serving and wins the game in four thanks to winners No. 11 and 12 of the match. Medvedev, by the way, has 13.
First set: Medvedev wins 6-4
Medvedev serving for the set hits a serve that Djokovic can’t hit back and fires off an ace to go up 30-0. He double faults but then recovers with a good serve down the T that Djokovic sends back long. He then collects ace No. 8 to finish off the set.
Medvedev leads 5-4
Djokovic serving to stay in the set sends the forehand into the net to trail 0-15. He then wins the next point on an overhead slam and goes up 30-15 with a beauty drop shot volley. He gets Medvedev to hit a backhand forced error and a backhand unforced error to win the game.
Medvedev leads 5-3
Ace No. 5 for Medvedev makes it 30-0 and ace No. 6 gives him the game.
Medvedev leads 4-3
Aside from the early break, both players are breezing through their service games. They each have four aces (Djokovic also has two double faults) and eight winners in the match.
Medvedev leads 4-2
Another five-point hold for Medvedev. He finishes with a few overhead smashes on the last point of the game.
Medvedev leads 3-2
Djokovic says: “I can do a quick game too.” Thanks to two aces he holds.
Medvedev leads 3-1
Another quick service game by the Russian; this time in four games as he finishes it off with an inside-out forehand winner down the line.
Medvedev leads 2-1
Djokovic struggling and already has eight unforced errors, trailing 15-40. He gets one point back with a backhand winner with Medvedev off the court and then gets it to deuce with an overhead smash. Back-to-back aces help him recover to avoid going down a double break early.
Medvedev leads 2-0
A quick service game for Medvedev as he goes up 40-0 and then holds in five points as Djokovic hits the backhand long.
Medvedev leads 1-0
Djokovic struggling with his serve in this first game (ended with 38 percent of his first serves going in). Medvedev gets the game to level at deuce — and gets an early breakpoint chance — after two long rallies and two shots missed on the forehand by the World No. 1. Medvedev then gets the break as Djokovic sends the forehand wide.
Pregame
All times Eastern
4:15 p.m. — Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper in attendance as is Maria Sharapova and the last guy to win the calendar Grand Slam, Rod Laver.
4:05 p.m. — Players enter Arthur Ashe Stadium. The weight of history is on the shoulders of Djokovic. Can Medvedev play spoiler?
3:47 p.m. — Another Golden Slam. Will Djokovic make it a Slam three-peat? (Note: Djokovic cannot win the Golden Slam as he lost in the semis to Alexander Zverev at the Tokyo Olympics.)
3:43 p.m. — Fun fact: Djokovic is the first player to complete the career Grand Slam twice.
3:10 p.m. — Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai defeat Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally for the women’s doubles crown.
3 p.m. — Earlier in the day, a Golden Slam was achieved by Diede de Groot. She won all four Grand Slams and the Olympics in 2021.
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