US Open final: Medvedev’s brilliance should be remembered as much as Djokovic’s missed opportunity

Novak Djokovic wasn’t at his best. In fact, he was far from it.

It was perhaps the most important match of his life. He had said he was going to treat it like it was the last match of his career. But on the night, the man who had won 27 Grand Slam matches this year simply didn’t turn up. Daniil Medvedev shattered his dream of a Calendar Slam with a stunning straight-sets victory to win his first Major at the US Open.

Djokovic’s biggest moment came in the second game of the second set. Medvedev had just breezed through the opening set but all of a sudden, he faced three break points. The Serb had won his four previous matches after dropping the first set and it seemed he was about to kickstart another all-too-familiar comeback.

Medvedev had to respond immediately and he did so by pulling out a harmless drop shot mid-rally. Djokovic picked it early and got to it well on time but the shot that followed served a fair reflection of his night as a whole. Instead of getting the break with a straightforward put-away, he dabbed the ball back awkwardly to allow Medvedev a forehand winner down the line.

Medvedev went on to hold…

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