NEW YORK – If Novak Djokovic completes the first Grand Slam of a calendar year for a man since 1969 – and heads to the U.S. Open final, just one win away – he and everyone others will remember one of the key elements, and epic, gameplay along the way.
He came to the conclusion of the third set of what eventually turned into a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Alexander Zverev in the Flushing Meadows semifinals on Friday night. , getting Djokovic 27-0 in the major championships this season.
On Sunday, beating No. 2 Daniil Medvedev will allow Djokovic to achieve two significant milestones. It would add the US Open 2021 trophy to those it won at the Australian Open in February, the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July. And the 34-year-old Serb would pick up his 21st Slam title, breaking the men’s career mark he currently shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“There’s only one game left … All inclusive. Let’s do it,” Djokovic said as he stretched out his arms in his interview on the court. “I’m going to put my heart and my soul and my body and my head into that one. I’m going to treat the next game like it’s the last game of my career.”
That key match against Zverev included an extended exchange one after the other, including a point of more than 53 shots, which was the longest of the tournament and was actually lost by Djokovic with a first-hand winner from Zverev, who crouched with his hands on his knees as most of the 21,139 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium rose in unison on a cool, clear night.
But that result didn’t matter. He never looks like Djokovic, especially in the best five-set matches in the most prestigious stages of his sport. As usual, he used his magnificent defense to return and never rest to wear Zverev.
So, yes, Djokovic lost that point (which was preceded by others of 13, 19, 22 and 31 shots, and followed by one that got 16), but he won that game and that ended with him. In the same way he had lost the first set about 1 hour and a half earlier, but turned things around, with the help of a level drop from fourth-placed Zverev. And just like, later, Djokovic lost the fourth set, but immediately bounced back and was almost untouchable as he advanced 5-0 in the fifth.
Djokovic, who has spent more weeks at No. 1 in the ATP rankings than anyone else, finds out what it takes to get to the top and does. In each of his last four games (and 10 in total in this year’s Slams), he finished with a set and won.
Federer equalized on Friday in reaching the 31st race slam final; Djokovic’s total now includes a record back in New York.
It will be No. 3 for Medvedev, a 25-year-old from Russia, who eliminated Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 12, in the afternoon, by 6-4, 7-5 and 6-2. Medvedev was defeated by Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open final and by Christmas in the 2019 US Open final.
“The more you lose something, the more you want to win it. The more you want to win it and grab it,” said Medvedev, who has only lost one set in the past two weeks. “I lost two finals. I want to win the third.”
Djokovic is trying to win 4-on-4 in the standings over the course of a season, something Rod Laver recently did in men’s tennis 52 years ago. Laver also did it in 1962 and Don Budge in 1938. Three women have completed what is known as a true Grand Slam, most recently Steffi Graf in 1988. Serena Williams ’attempt in 2015 ended at the States Open. United with a loss of semifinals against Roberta. Vinci.
As the semifinals began on Friday night, Laver, 81, was literally looking over Djokovic’s shoulder, sitting in front and in the middle behind a baseline in the president’s box at Ashe.
A year ago in New York, when fans were banned due to the coronavirus pandemic, Zverev came so close to picking up his first major, taking a two-set lead and getting two championship points before wear it all out. losing to Dominic Thiem in a tiebreaker in the fifth set.
Zverev arrived on Friday for a 16-win streak, a race that includes beating Djokovic in the semifinals of the Olympics on July 30th. Still, in a format of the best of three sets, that changes everything when it comes to Djokovic. He is now 36-10 in five-set matches.
Here’s what happens to Djokovic, who occasionally rubbed his back with his left hand or hit his legs with the racket: whatever the external signals, the racket stays firm, never stresses and waits let the other type slip.
“It’s a kind of hurricane, a tornado, of emotions that you go through in a sequence of a set or even a point. You’re alone on the track, so there’s no escape. You have to find a way, ”Djokovic said. “And I think, over the years, I’ve managed to develop a formula that works for me.”
I’m sure.
“Mentally, in the most important moments,” Zverev said after his 3-and-a-half-hour loss, “I’d rather play against anyone but him.”
Against Zverev, things really came to life six games and 20 minutes later, thanks to a magnificent 24-time point in which Djokovic tried a shot on goal. Zverev got there, responded with a seemingly impossible angle, and after Djokovic sped up the doubles alley and stretched out to catch up, with sneakers squeaking all the way, he came across a winner.
The crowd went wild. Zverev raised his right hand and waved his fingers, “Stronger!” Ten minutes later, three hole players and a double foul by Djokovic put him in a 5-4 hole. Zverev, a 24-year-old German with a power-based game, served the set with the help of ace at 128 mph and 132 mph, and, at the last point, a service at 128 mph that Djokovic left his frame, sending the ball into the seats.
Zverev went from six unforced errors in that set to 13 in the second, and the match was tied. In the third, a loose play by Djokovic and a winner by Zverev, who passed behind, created a couple of breaking points. But Djokovic saved them and held on 3-2 with an advantage that cut the baseline.
Zverev put a hand on his hip, disagreeing that the ball was there, but this year there is no recourse to the US Open: all resolutions are made by electronic calls and cannot be discussed. There are no line judges with whom to doubt or argue.
Last year there was one, and Djokovic was disqualified from Flushing Meadows in the fourth round when a ball he hit after losing a game inadvertently hit a line judge in the throat. In the next big tournament, the French Open delayed by the pandemic, Djokovic lost in the final against Nadal.
Since then, there have been deficits in Djokovic’s Grand Slam matches, but no defeats.
“It’s great for the sport,” Zverev said of Djokovic’s research. “No one thought anyone would do it again … I think they will.”