Novak Djokovic was ‘the happiest man alive’ regardless of dropping to Medvedev in 2021
Novak Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev within the US Open last two years after they met on the very same stage. It was the Medvedev who defeated the three-time champion in New York, lifting his first – and to date solely – Grand Slam title. During the match, Djokovic was decreased to tears as he acquired overwhelming help from the gang and he later mentioned it meant greater than successful the title.
This yr, Djokovic returned to the US Open for the primary time since 2021. And he now finds himself in the very same place he did final time he was in Flushing Meadows – dealing with Medvedev within the last.
In that match, the 36-year-old discovered himself crying in entrance of the 23,000-strong Arthur Ashe Stadium. The tears began earlier than the competition was even over, as Djokovic turned emotional throughout a changeover earlier than his opponent stepped as much as serve for the title.
And it continued after the ultimate level was performed with the 23-time Grand Slam champion sobbing into his towel whereas sitting on his bench after Medvedev gained 6-4 6-4 6-4. Djokovic carried on crying all through his runner-up speech however he defined that they had been joyful tears – a results of the love he felt from the followers.
“Even though I have not won the match, my heart is filled with joy and I am the happiest man alive because you guys made me feel very special on the court. You guys touched my soul,” he advised the gang.
At the time, Djokovic was bidding to win what then would have been a document twenty first males’s Major trophy. More importantly, he was bidding to turn out to be the primary man in 52 years to finish the Calendar Grand Slam title. But he mentioned that the help meant as a lot as lifting the trophy.
“I felt something I never felt in my life here in New York,” Djokovic later defined. “The crowd made me very special. They pleasantly surprised me. I did not expect anything, but the amount of support and energy and love I got from the crowd was something that I’ll remember forever.
“That’s the reason on the changeover I just teared up. The emotion, the energy was so strong. It’s as strong as winning 21 Grand Slams. That’s how I felt, honestly. I felt very, very special. They touched my heart, honestly.”
The world No 2 might be hoping that he receives the identical help when he returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium however this time round he’ll wish to reverse the scoreline and defeat Medvedev with one other document on the road. If Djokovic wins the title, he’ll equal Margaret Court’s all-time standing for many Grand Slam titles in tennis historical past with 24. He already shares the Open Era document of 23 with Serena Williams.