Novak Djokovic Maintains Hierarchy in US Open Opener, Eyes Historic Victory

The Serbian wants to make history in New York. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar

After the moment of the shocking United States anthem, the curtain opened on the US Open with Novak Djokovic’s hierarchy intact. Under the watchful eye of local artists such as The Poolice frontman Sting, Justin Timberlake, Leonardo Di Caprio, Nicole Kidman, model Christie Brinkley, ice hockey figure Henrik Lundqvist, international TV celebrity Martha Stewart and comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Nole gave no respite and took the first set by imposing his conditions against the Russian Daniil Medvedev with a resounding 6-3.

The Serbian had 48 minutes to win the first set and maintain his goal of winning his twenty-fourth Grand Slam title in his career. Furthermore, the Balkan’s desire was to win the Major of the northern country for the fourth time, since he had taken over the competition in the 2011, 2015 and 2016 editions.

The Belgrade legend argued his superiority in the effectiveness of his serves, the simplicity to close long points and the opportunism to capitalize on his rival’s unforced errors.

In the resumption of the fight, the Russian put up a much tougher battle. He improved the percentage with the aces, called on his power to counteract the 23 times in which Djokovic went to the net and took the second set to a definition full of tension and nervousness. The Serbian’s reaction was not a coincidence when he demanded balls from the umpire without arguments. His annoyance was reflected against the authorities and the Arthur Ashe court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center complex. Especially when he spread himself out in search of oxygen to recover from adversity. In addition, Nole felt the wear and tear against Medvedev who felt more and more comfortable letting go of his racket.

In any case, the Moscow singles player could not close the set and the Balkan legend responded with authority to extend the second set towards the tie-break, an instance in which the Russian started better with a 3-1 in his favor, but the His opponent’s technique took him to 5 all. And the suspense ended when Djokovic took the set 7-5 in more than an hour and forty that the set lasted.

An amazing spectacle, given that Medvedev’s improvement put Nole on the ropes from a technical and mental aspect. The Russian had the best version of him and it was not enough. The question arose about how he was going to react to the resumption of the fight, given that the lost look during the break, while they were giving him massages to rehabilitate his lower back, suggested a resignation that would set the trend for what remained to be played.

The history between the two is 14 games and favors Nole 9 to 5, although the last time they met the Russian won, this year in the Dubai semifinals by 6-4 and 6-4. Medvedev knows what it’s like to beat Djokovic in a US Open final, since he beat him in the 2021 final by a triple 6-4, while Nole won two definitions: the 2021 Australian Open in straight sets and also the same year that of the Masters 1000 in Paris.

On his way to the final, the Serbian legend beat the Frenchman Alexandre Muller (84), the Spanish Bernabé Zapata Miralles (76), his compatriot Laslo Djere (38), the Croatian Borna Gojo (105) and two Americans: Taylor Fritz (9) and Ben Shelton (47).

The Russian, for his part, left behind the Hungarian Attila Balazs (without ranking), the Australians Christopher O’Connell (69) and Alex De Miñaur (13), the Argentine Sebastián Báez (32), the Russian Andrey Rublev (8) and the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (1), who defended the title.

In the case of the Balkan, who will regain the number one in the world next Monday (he will displace the Spanish Alcaraz), he is going through a fantastic year in which he played in all the Grand Slam finals, having won those in Australia and Roland Garros, while He lost Wimbledon with the Murcian tennis player.

The other two protagonists who had played in the four Grand Slam finals in the open era were the Australian Rod Laver in 1969 (he won them all) and the Swiss Roger Federer three times, in 2006, 2007 (in both seasons he won three) and 2009 (he kept two). In the case of Djokovic, he had also played the finals of the four Majors in 2015 and 2021, on both occasions he took three. Another record for Nole is that in New York he increased his number of Grand Slam finals to 36 and is the first to reach at least 10 definitions in “Majors” with a dozen in Australia and now 10 in the US Open. Although the Serbian is the big favorite, the version that the Russian Medvedev showed in New York is the best of the year and if he repeats his performance in the semifinals with Alcaraz he can dream of taking the title.

GALLERY OF THE CELEBRITIES PRESENT AT THE FINAL

Actor Matthew McConaughey, with his wife Camila Alves. Photo: REUTERS / Shannon StapletonComedian Jerry Seinfeld and his wife Jessica Seinfeld. Photo: REUTERS/Mike SegarSinger Keith Urban, with actress Nicole Kidman. Photo: REUTERS/Mike SegarTV celebrity Martha Stewart and model Christie Brinkley. Photo: REUTERS/Mike SegarIce hockey figure Henrik Lundqvist. Photo: REUTERS/Mike SegarSinger Justin Timberlake. Photo: REUTERS / Mike SegarSinger Sting and his wife Trudie Styler. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar
2023-09-10 22:52:30
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