Tom Brady’s three-word message to Novak Djokovic after US Open win

Tom Brady issued a message of assist to Novak Djokovic after he reached the US Open Final. The Serbian resisted late strain from teenager Ben Shelton within the semifinals to win 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) and keep on target for a twenty fourth Grand Slam title – and fourth in New York.

After the match, footage emerged of the pair of sporting greats catching up within the corridors of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Brady, who was accompanied by his youngsters, advised the 36-year-old in a brief and highly effective assertion. “Keep kicking a** like always”.

Djokovic’s response was simply as telling, saying merely: “Trying.”

As the pair continued talking, the previous New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers star admitted he couldn’t watch Djokovic’s match as a result of he was touring from Miami. “I wish we could’ve seen you play tonight,” Brady mentioned earlier than he pointed at his youngsters and continued: “But they’d faculty in Miami, so we needed to allow them to end, then we flew up.”

He added: “But I was hoping you’d have the night match,” before Djokovic replied: “Yeah I know.” Djokovic and Brady have been friends for several years. The seven-time Super Bowl winner last watched the Serbian – who won the title in New York in 2011, 2015 and 2018 – at this year’s French Open.

Brady sat in his friend’s box as he watched him defeat Casper Ruud to break the record for the number of Grand Slams won by a male.

After defeating Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarterfinals, Djokovic spoke of the delight of having fellow elite athletes such as Brady come to watch him play.

“Tom Brady being in my box for Roland Garros finals and sitting next to my wife, was a huge honor,” he said. “I have a relationship with Tom for several years. We go back. I have tremendous respect for him. I try to maintain and nurture relationships with athletes from different sports because, as an athlete, of course, I relate to them. I identify myself with what they are doing and I can understand the pain, the sacrifice, the dedication.

“I respect the greatness, especially the guys that have made it to an all-time great level in their respective sports. Those are the kind of people that you want to be around. You want to learn things from them because you never know, there are things that can be so inspirational, as they are in my relationship with Tom.”

Brady will have another chance to watch Djokovic in action at Flushing Meadows when he appears in Sunday’s final. The tennis legend was able to neutralize Shelton’s thunderous serve and broke the youngster five times while winning 84% of his own first-serve points. He struck 28 winners compared to 25 unforced errors and won 88% of net points in a very consistent two-hour and 40-minute display.

“These are the sorts of matches and events that I nonetheless thrive on and get me going and encourage me day-after-day to attempt to work as laborious because the younger guys,” Djokovic said. “The Grand Slams are those that encourage me probably the most to play my finest tennis, carry out my finest tennis.

“I knew prior to the quarterfinals that I would play an American player and that is never easy. To control the nerves and be composed in the moments that matter. Today things were going really smoothly for me and then he broke back and it was anyones game at the end of the third set.

“This is the kind of atmosphere we all like to play in, so I am really, really pleased with this win today.”

Djokovic’s opponent within the ultimate can be Daniil Medvedev after he recorded a shock win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in 4 units. It means Sunday’s showdown can be a repeat of the 2021 US Open ultimate when the third seed beat Djokovic to win his first Grand Slam and finish his opponent’s hopes of successful all Grand Slams in the identical 12 months.