Novak Djokovic admits US Open closing might be his final forward of Medvedev conflict

Sep 09, 2023 at 9:24 PM

Djokovic has been in stellar kind this season profitable the Australian and French Open crowns earlier than being overwhelmed within the Wimbledon closing. Long-term rival Roger Federer was compelled into retirement final yr after struggling to get better from a knee harm.

Fellow rival Rafael Nadal has not performed competitively for the reason that 37-year-old suffered a hip harm in the course of the Australian Open in January and his return date is unclear. He intends to stroll away from tennis in 2024. With each of his career-long rivals now absent Djokovic, 36 himself, is conscious that retirement might be simply across the nook.

He beat American Ben Shelton in Friday’s semi-final 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 to arrange a closing conflict in opposition to Medvedev. Afterwards the Serbian stated: “Well, the fact is that at 36, every Grand Slam final, yeah, I don’t know, could be the last one.

“So I think that I probably value these occasions and opportunities to win another Slam as more than I have maybe 10 years ago, because 10 years ago I felt like, hey, I still have quite a few years ahead of me.

“I don’t know how many I have ahead of me now, or I don’t know how many of the years where I play four Slams in the whole season do I have in front of me. So of course I am aware of the occasion. But I try to approach Sunday’s match as basically any other match with the intention to win, and I’ll play my opponent.

“Knowing that it’s going to be the toughest challenge, without a doubt, not just because it’s a final but also because I’m playing — you know, the two guys that the last time I faced both of them in a Grand Slam finals I lost; Carlos Wimbledon and then Daniil here in ’21 US Open final.

“So I understand the importance of that, and of course they are both in great shape. I think I’m in very good shape too, so I like my chances.” Medvedev beat Djokovic to win his solely Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows two years in the past. The Russian shocked Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 of their semi-final on Friday, to disclaim the Spaniard an opportunity of defending his title.

“I said I needed to play 11 out of 10, said Medvedev after beating the current world No 1. “I played 12 out of 10 except the third set! That’s the only way. I don’t know if he still 20 or 21 but two Grand Slams already.

“World number one for many weeks. It’s pretty unbelievable, I think nobody has done it before him. To beat him, you need to be better than yourself. I managed to do it.”

Despite accepting that every main closing might be his final Djokovic says that he isn’t contemplating retirement but. He added: “I don’t want to even consider leaving tennis or thinking about an end if I’m still at the top of the game.

“I will probably consider doing that if I get my a** kicked by young guys in Grand Slams in the years to come.”