09/12/2021 1:57 PM
ClarĂn.com
sports
Updated 09/12/2021 3:23 PM
If there was ever
a grand final of the US Open
of tennis that was full of historical achievements and ambitions, this will be the one that Serbian
Novak Djokovic
, the world number one,
stars this Sunday
against Russian
Daniil Medvedev
, his escort in the ATP ranking .
The 34-year-old Djokovic aims at nothing less than to become the
first player to achieve the full cycle
of all four Grand Slam titles in a single year, since the Australian legendary
Rod Laver
last did so in 1969.
That would also allow him to reach
21 Grand Slam titles
, being the first to do so and leaving behind the Swiss
Roger Federer
and the Spanish
Rafael Nadal
, with whom he now shares the mark of the 20 major trophies.
Many of which he has achieved
not only because of his class as a player but also because of his mental toughness
, of never giving up and coming back in games that for others were already considered lost.
Djokovic celebrates his semi-final win against Zverev.
Photo REUTERS
The last demonstration was given in the previous semifinal match against German
Alexander Zverev
, fourth seed, who was able to take the match to the fifth and decisive set and also when he was playing better.
Djokovic's response was to
sweep him in the fifth with a 5-0 run
and play the best tennis he had played in the entire match, as the world number one later acknowledged to journalists at the press conference.
With this, there are no less than nine Open finals, of the 31 he has reached as a professional (to also tie with Federer).
To achieve this,
for the tenth time
in a Grand Slam tournament this season he
prevailed after having lost the first set
, something that had never been seen.
The semifinal was the fourth time in a row he did it at this US Open after he eliminated the Japanese
Kei Nishikori
, the American
Jenson Brooksby
and the Italian
Matteo Berrettini,
sixth seed, successively.
"I'm going to put my heart, my soul, my body and my head into it," promised Djokovic in his interview after the victory over Zverev in the semifinal.
"I'm going to treat that game as if it were the last of my professional career
.
"
Djokovic made it clear that
his reputation for never dying
was built over many years, having successfully found his way through the crucial moments in the biggest games time and time again.
Medvedev congratulates Djokovic after the final of Australia 2021. Photo Brandon MALONE / AFP
It was
a timely reminder for Medvedev
ahead of Sunday's showdown.
"Probably all these great games that I won, great titles over the years, they
have created that kind of aura around me
that the players know there is a spirit of never dying with me, especially when I play Grand Slams," admitted Djokovic.
"They know that until the last blow things can change, as was the case on several occasions throughout my career."
Nole
, of course, claims to feel satisfied with that image that he transmits to his rivals.
"Yes, I am glad that my opponents think of me that way.
I want them to feel like they are under extreme pressure
when I face them on a big Grand Slams stage," Djokovic stressed.
That means there is another story
All this is already known to Medvedev, 25, from his own experience, and hence his motivation is
greater than ever
to know that not only can he beat the number one in the world, who aspires to great historical achievements, but with his triumph would get the first title in a Grand Slam.
Medvedev only lost one set in the tournament: to Botic van de Zandschulp, Schwartzman's executioner.
Photo EFE
After
two runners-up in the grand finals
, Medvedev, contesting the second US Open finish in three years, is more than ready than ever to join the club of
Majors
champions
and begin to build his own legacy on the biggest stage in the world. tennis.
Twice before he has done his best to overcome obstacles in a Grand Slam final: at Flushing Meadows two years ago, when he came close to beating Nadal, and at this year's Australian Open, where Djokovic comfortably had his measure.
Should the Serb's great winning streak snap to a flawless 28-0 victory in 2021, the historic act of escape
would count for little for Medvedev compared to personal reward
, nothing less than an inaugural trophy among the big four, something that for the so-called Next Gen only Dominic Thiem achieved by consecrating himself in this New York tournament last year.
"I think for my part of course ... If I can do this, I'll probably be in the history books a bit somewhere like not letting him do this. But I don't really care. I think it's
more about him. , that affects him,
"said Medvedev, who is convinced that Djokovic
will feel the pressure
much more than and perhaps this time the world number one will not respond as a winner.
Medvedev reiterated that he will also give everything on the court, but not at all thinking that he can take the full cycle of Grand Slam from Djokovic but rather to overcome once and for all
the adversity of not having been able to win
a major
league
title.
Only one set lost.
No tiebreaks played. @ DaniilMedwed is on a business trip in New York.
đź’Ľ pic.twitter.com/oDRYu4Jp9S
- US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
If successful, he will become the
first Russian
to triumph at this level since
Marat Safin
at the 2005 Australian Open. He
has lost only one set at Flushing Meadows this year
, to Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarter-finals.
It has been a much easier run to his second Open final than his rival and also his own two years ago, when only two of his six matches en route to the final came in straight sets.
"
I have everything going for me
, the experience of previous finals, my good relationship with the public, a lot of energy and the conviction that I can win the game and the best player in the world," added Medvedev.
"Mentally I will also be ready to compete with Djokovic and for sure it will be a match for history."
With information from EFE
Look also
Emma Raducanu, the studio obsessive who had a return ticket to the final of qualifying and won the US Open
The recognition of Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family to Emma Raducanu after her title at the US Open
