Reunion: Medvedev and Djokovic
© REUTERS/LOREN ELLIOTT
Russian Daniil Medvedev will face superstar Novak Djokovic in today’s US Open final (10 p.m. CEST). What you need to know.
Everything had been arranged. The festive menu, the best for dessert. But the Russian Daniil Medvedev didn’t like it, he didn’t want to be satisfied with the new pecking order and beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 7:6, 6:1, 3:6, 6:3. “I said before that I had to play at an 11 out of 10 level – and I played 12 out of 10.”
His top form comes in handy for him to have a chance against the record man at the Grand Slam tournaments today (10 p.m., CEST, www.joyn.at). Novak Djokovic had previously ended US man Ben Shelton’s successful run relatively unceremoniously 6:3, 6:2 and 7:6. What you need to know about the showdown.
➤ Djokovic’s confident semi-final victory
➤ Medvedev’s surprising success
Signs of aging
With the title, Djokovic could become the oldest US Open champ of the professional era (since 1968). The Serb turned 36 on May 22nd, making him even older than Australian Ken Rosewall, who was 35 in 1970.
Record man
Djokovic is number one among men with 23 Grand Slam triumphs, and with title number 24 he would draw level with Australian Margaret Court.
Not a US record
Given the Serb’s successes, it almost sounds a bit unrealistic, but he can’t crown himself King of New York. Djokovic is playing his tenth final in the Big Apple, but has only walked out of the Arthur Ashe Stadium as champion three times. The US stars Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and the Swiss Roger Federer won five times.
The double chance
If Daniil Medvedev wins, he would be only the second player alongside Alcaraz since 2016 (Stan Wawrinka) to win his second Grand Slam tournament apart from the Big Three (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer). Aside from the stars mentioned, only Austria’s ace Dominic Thiem (2020) won during this period.
No Grand Slam
If Djokovic wins, he will miss the Grand Slam (all four titles in a calendar year) for the third time by just a single match. In 2015 he lost the French Open final against Stan Wawrinka, in 2021 he was undefeated until the final in New York – where he lost to Medvedev 4:6, 4:6 and 4:6. This year the 36-year-old only lost to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
The change in leadership
It was already clear after his first-round win that Djokovic would replace Alcaraz on Monday, as the Spaniard’s points from last year’s victory were no longer counted. Medvedev remains number three in the world.
The prize money explosion
The winner of the finals (men and women) will receive three million dollars (and 2.73 million euros), around 15 percent more than last year – there has never been such high prize money at a Grand Slam. For comparison: in 1973, total salaries were paid out at $100,000. The winners each received $25,000.
Final affair
Djokovic is in his 36th Grand Slam final and is extending his record. Behind him are Federer (31), Nadal (30) and Ivan Lendl (19). Medvedev is there for the fifth time on the last day of the tournament; of those still active, only Djokovic, Nadal and Andy Murray (11) are better.
Well-informed anytime, anywhere
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2023-09-10 11:29:50
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