ATP
Djokovic re-writes history with 24th Grand Slam success
Novak Djokovic fulfilled his tennis dream on Sunday with a 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat of Daniil Medvedev which took the Serb to a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
The world No. 2 pulled level with historical leader Margaret Court, who set the record back in the day half a century ago in an entirely different tennis world.
Djokovic took revenge against Medvedev after losing to his rival here in the 2021 final – also in straight sets. That defeat prevented the 36-year-old from winning a calendar-year Grand Slam.
The Serb now owns four trophies from Flushing Meadows after playing in 10 finals here.
Djokovic fell to the court, kneeling face down and letting loose with tears of joy after winning when Medvedev sent a return into the net on match point..
Once he regained composure – and tossed his racquet to a female fan in the crowd – he was escorted by five security men into the stands, where he hugged friends and family in the most emotional moment of his career.
The Djokovic team then broke out specially designed white jackets with a large “24” emblazoned on the right breast. Djokovic also put on a t-shirt honours his late friend Kobe Bryant, who wore the number 24 during his basketball career.
“This means the world to me, I’m living my childhood dream,” the winner said.
“I always wanted to compete on the highest level on the court. Tennis has given me and my family so much, coming from a difficult background and adversity.
“This is a trophy for my team and my family as much as it is for me.
“To make history is remarkable and special in every meaning of the word.
“I never thought I’d be talking of 24 Grand Slam titles, I never thought this would be reality.”
He added: “Over the last several years I knew I had a shot at history – why not grab it when it is presented?”
Djokovic claimed his fourth US Open crown in his10th final here.
This title match was the first in New York between former champs since 2018 when Djokovic beat del Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 winner.
.Medvedev took defeat well, even if it spoiled his wedding anniversary with his wife sitting in his player box throughout the match.
The runner-up was playing his third final here in the last five years and won the 2021 title.
“What are you still doing here,” he joked to veteran Djokovic. “This was our third (Grand Slam) final but maybe not out last.
“But when will you be slowing down a bit?
“I’ve not had a bad career and I have 25 titles – but you have 24 Grand Slams – wow.”
Medvedev called his defeat of Djokovic here two years ago “the pinnacle of my career.
“Novak always pushed me to be better.I wanted to do better and the crowd has been pushing me all the time.
.”I hope to have one more time to hold this trophy again.”
Djokoivic announced his intentions as he broke Medvedev in the second game of the match, with the third seed caught on the back foot as he tried to get started.
The Serb second seed missed two set point chances as his opponent held for 3-5. But Djokovic didn’t have long to wait as he claimed the set in 48 minutes as Medvedev landed a backhand long.
In the seventh game of the second set, Djokovic tumbled over in apparent fatigue after losing a 31-shot rally, though the act appeared to be more for dramatics than actual exhaustion.
But the Serb kept his composure and captured the set after another one and three-quarter hours as the running total for two sets played hit more than two and a half hours.
Djokovic kept up his intensity in the third set as the finishing line drew closer in front of 24,000.
He applied what he had hoped would be finishing touches as he broke for 3-1 in the third set, only to lose it a game later as Medvedev struck back.
But a game later, Djokovic again took the lead as Medvedev sent a return into the net to trail 4-2.
Alexander Zverev took a further step towards a defence of his 2025 title at the ATP Munich event with a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 hammering of Canada’s Gabriel Diallo on Thursday.
The German who won his only title of 2025 in his home nation faced an opponent carrying an injury in the 73-minute loss.
“I think he had some issues with his back and wasn’t serving fully in the second set anymore. Very unfortunate,” the 28-year-old world No. 3 said.
“Of course I am happy with the win and getting an easier match today.”
After days of cold weather, the spring sun finally made an appearance in the Bavarian capital.
Zverev advanced the the last eight with five breaks of serve and will bid fro a return to the semi-finals against fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo, a winner over Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0.
“I played well from the baseline. I probably didn’t serve well in the first set, but it got better in the second. I am trying to improve every day,” the winner said as he reached a second straight quarter-final here..
Zverev has won their last four meetings.
“I’ve never beaten him on clay, which is his favourite surface, but I am definitely looking forward to the challenge,” Zverev said.
“I’m very happy to be at this stage, facing a tough opponent. That’s what it’s going to be tomorrow.”
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his 2025 Munich trophy
Roland Garros will continue to buck the trend of electronic linecalling, with Grand Slam tournament boss Amelie Mauresmo laying down the law on Thursday in Paris.
Unlike the other three majors which have sent teams of line judges into early retirement, the clay major will stick with the tried and true for another edition beginning on May 24.
In addition to tradition, the skid marks left on the dirt by ball makes determining in or out subjective enough to often require a keen eye.
“They are not 100% reliable,” Mauresmo said of the electronic systems currently in use.“Our decision was to stick to our way.”
But the former WTA No. 1 suddenly flipped the script when it comes to the controversial suggestion that women should play best-of-five-sets at the four majors just like the men.
The idea has drawn scorn from top women, but that does not dissuade Mauresmo.
“You can’t change a format overnight to go from best of three to best of five. But if we think about it, would it be only the semifinal, the final, or for all matches?” the former Wimbledon champion said.
“This could be a win-win situation but we have to talk about this with the women players.”
The Wimbledon winner admitted that she had often yearned during her playing days for longer contests.
“When I did the Masters (season-ending) final ( 2005) I would have wanted to do the final in best of five. So maybe one day, you never know.”
The former player would not be drawns out on the dreaded night matches at Roland Garros, formerly a fully daytinem event.
“We will talk about scheduling when the time comes,” she said.“Nothing is closed and nothing is set in stone, it depends on the draws and the lineups.”
Also on the table are likely to be the distribution of night matches, with women barely registering in the night-tiem hours during the 2025 edition.
On the final Saturday there has been one change: The men’s doubles final will be played before the women’s singles final and not afterward.
“We will talk about scheduling when the time comes,” the TD said. “Nothing is closed and nothing is set in stone, it depends on the draws and the lineups.”
In the continuing prize money arms race among the four Grand Slams, Roland Garros announced a rise to a global USD 72 million in player payouts, a rise of USD 6.25 million.
Carlos Alcaraz quit the Barcelona Open with a wrist injury and cast serious doubt on his fitness and availability for run-up events prior to next month’s French Open.
The Spaniard who lost his No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner through Sunday’s loss to the Italian in the Monte Carlo Casters final was unable to carry on at his home event in Barcelona.
Alcaraz quit the clay event prior to his second-round match against Tomas Machac. The Spaniard injured his wrist in a first-round win over Finn Otto Virtanen and warned that he could make no solid commitment yet to furue play due to his injury.
“It’s with great sadness I have to go back home to start my recovery as soon as possible with my team, with the doctors, with the physio, and try to be as healthy as possible as soon as possible for (future) tournaments,” he said.
“Let’s hope, that you can see me back on a tennis court as soon as possible.”
Alcaraz is now touch and go for the Madrid Masters oddly starting in a week next Wednesday as the ATP stretches out the Masters events in an unpopular money-spinning exercise.
Alcarraz could face a serious hit to his ranking if he cannot front up in the Spanish capital and next month in Rome, with titles to defend in both venues.
“But I’ve seen today’s tests, and it’s a slightly more serious injury than we all expected.
“In the end I have to listen to my body, what won’t affect me later on: That’s why I have to withdraw from this tournament.
“I never like to withdraw from any tournament, but especially from this one,”
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