No calendar Grand Slam for the Serbian. Blame it on Medvedev and himself. The record hunter broke and it hit the Big Apple audience.
The 34-year-old champion didn’t lose everything on Sunday. He, who has not supported the weight of history, thus failing to achieve the feat of a Grand Slam over a year, remains stuck at 20 coronations, still tied with his eternal rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but he also groomed his popularity. Him the unloved of the Big Three, much less popular than Federer and Nadal. Rightly or wrongly, he has often had to face hostile audiences in his career. Faced with the enormous stakes, the Djokovic machine got out of hand. Human, too human in his tennis weaknesses as in his emotions. And it touched the New York public.
Djokovic in all his forms. In the second set, he had the opportunity to break his opponent three times in the first game. Frustrated to have seen a point replay on a second ball from the Russian because of a very late announcement on a let, the world number 1 then spent his nerves on his racquet. He first slapped the racket on his right thigh several times, then smashed it completely on the hard court two games later. He then received a logical warning.
Face hidden under his towel, haggard look, he seemed lost on Arthur Ashe for a long time. Back to the wall, led 5-1 in the third act, he then received a standing ovation from the audience. The 23,000 spectators of Arthur Ashe, being almost 100% behind him. And cheered it on when Medvedev got his first breakthrough. At the change of sides, when he had just unboxed for the first time and saved a match point, the world number 1 smiled, his hand on his heart, before bursting into tears. A touching image.
At the awards ceremony, the tears had not yet dried. After congratulating Daniil Medvedev, the world number 1 tried to put his disappointment into perspective: “Even though I didn’t win the game my heart is filled with joy I’m the happiest in the world because you made this special moment. You made me feel special. I’ve never felt like this in New York. Thank you for this support. I love you and I will see you again very soon ”.
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