One recreation from the top of his bid for what could be the primary calendar-year Grand Slam in males’s tennis since 1969, Novak Djokovic coated his face with a towel, hiding his tears throughout a change.
For 27 Grand Slam matches in 2021, Djokovic couldn’t be deterred, couldn’t be defeated on onerous court docket, clay court docket and grass. Needing one other win towards Daniil Medvedev within the US Open remaining on Sunday, to finish a season sweep of main titles and declare the twenty first document of his profession, Djokovic could not come.
Dismissed by somebody utilizing a mode just like his personal, Djokovic got here simply wanting these two historic milestones, 6-4, 6-4, 6- over first-time main champion Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Lost by 4.
a merely astonishing efficiency from @DaniilMedwed pic.twitter.com/0sF1r2CiNg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
1 ranked Djokovic had a stellar run in 4 of the game’s most necessary tournaments, bearing the burden of expectations and strain in New York over the previous seven months and the previous two weeks.
He defeated Medvedev within the remaining of the Australian Open in February, then added titles on the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.
But 34-year-old Djokovic of Serbia couldn’t rating 28-0. He was removed from at his greatest on this specific day.
He made errors, 38 unforced errors in all. He wasn’t in a position to convert a break likelihood till it was too little, too late, going simply 1 for six. He additionally confirmed dismay, destroying his racket by pounding thrice towards the court docket after one level, receiving a boon from a crowd of 25,703 and a code violation from chair umpire Damien Dumusois.
List of gamers who defeated Novak Djokovic in Grand Slam 2021:
Daniil Medvedev
-end of list-
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
Djokovic had plenty of points with No. 2-ranked Medvedev, who used his 6-foot-6 (1.98-m) body to chase the whole lot down and reply with a seemingly easy groundstroke. – the best way Djokovic takes down enemies – and delivered pinpoint servings. Medvedev received 20 of his first 23 service factors, setting a sample.
He completed with 16 aces and 38 winners, 11 greater than Djokovic. After overcoming a number of double faults at match level, Medvedev lastly obtained the job carried out, then fell on the court docket by his facet.
With six victories on onerous courts at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic reached his record-equalling thirty first Grand Slam remaining. But he did not get the very last thing he wanted.
He is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 main titles.
“To me you are the greatest tennis player in history.” pic.twitter.com/DZMH7MDr4N
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
And the final man to finish a real Grand Slam, scoring 4 for 4 within the Major in a single season, is Rod Laver, who did it twice – in 1962 and 1969 – and was within the stands on Sunday. The final lady to attain this feat was Steffi Graf in 1988.
Instead, Djokovic joined as males with Jack Crawford in 1933 and Lew Hoad in 1956, successful the primary trio of Grand Slam tournaments of the yr and making the finals of the US Open earlier than shedding.
Djokovic turned out to be a bit chilly on Sunday, mixing in double-faulting and sufficient groundstroke miscalculations in every of his opening two service video games – tilting his head or rolling his eyes after one thing – that at 12 minutes, Medvedev was one level from the second break. and a 3-0 lead. Djokovic ultimately used aces at 117 mph and 124 mph, however it was Medvedev who stole the present within the early phases.
It was the fifth consecutive match wherein Djokovic dropped the primary set – and eleventh in a Grand Slam recreation this yr – however not like different cases, he couldn’t come again to win.
though at this second pic.twitter.com/dgvqLMpdBv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
Djokovic obtained Love-40 in Medvedev’s first serve recreation of the second set, however neither of them got here to the break level. On third, Djokovic inserted a shredded backhand into the online, then patted his racket on his left thigh – one, two, three, 4 occasions, in all probability pissed off by something in his footwork.
Thousands of spectators chanted his nickname, “No-lay! No-take! No-lay!” After some faults from Medvedev, some within the stands applauded, thought-about poor type in tennis, and have been repeatedly warned with a “please” from Dumusois.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
