Fallen to the German Alexandre Zverev (4th) in the semi-final, the 34-year-old Serb will try this Sunday to win the final of the US Open against the Russian Daniil Medvedev (2nd) and thus win the first calendar Grand Slam since Rod Wash in 1969.
It is one of its best seasons. After winning the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, “Djoko” is only one match away from history. If he wins the final of the US Open this Sunday, September 12 in New York, the Serbian player will achieve the Grand Slam, a feat never achieved by his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Indeed, the last to have achieved this performance is the Australian Rod Laver in 1969. Now 83 years old, he confided to the New York Times “Feel happy at the idea that a new player joins him in the legend, him and Donald Budge”, the first man to have succeeded in the Grand Slam in 1938. Because yes, for the moment, there are only two.
“I’m going to play this match as if it was the last of my career”
He promised it, this game, he will play it with his heart, his soul and his head. But it will not be easy.
“Nole” will be opposed to Medvedev who has so far had a very nice tournament. The Russian, just as combative, has energy. Easily qualified in the final of the US Open, by beating the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (15th), the world number 2 spent on average only two hours per match on the court.
Ready to stop Djokovic in his mad race, Medvedev will, however, probably have in mind the last final of the Australian Open where he lost in just three sets against the Serbian giant.
Novak Djokovic, who has already equaled Federer and Nadal’s record for twenty Grand Slam titles, is therefore on course to become the greatest player of all time this Sunday.