Each time Novak Djokovic wins, a mark falls and a new record is set. It’s as if with each new Grand Slam triumph, he manages to write history differently. With a different pen or a renewed prose. But in the Joker’s case, it’s not the literacy that matters, but rather the numbers.
With his victory against Daniil Medvedev in three sets of 6-3, 7-6 and 6-3 in the final of the United States Open on Sunday, Djokovic joined Margaret Court at the top of tennis history with 24 major titles. “I never believed it could become a reality. But in the last few years, I understood that I had a chance to make history,” emphasized the winner.
He now has two more than Rafael Nadal, his closest pursuer in men.
However, the debate over who is the greatest champion in history is no longer relevant. Djoko put an end to it at Roland-Garros in June and buried it for good during this other hot New York evening.
“I have 20 titles and I think I have a great career. While you have 24 in Grand Slam, so…”, launched Daniil Medvedev, after the meeting, in the direction of his opponent.
His demonstration against Medvedev proved two things. First, that he is still hungry. It’s even more so as we get older, one would say. Then if he is back in the world number one, it is mainly because he is still able to adapt. And that is his genius.
Novak Djokovic has won the majority of his Grand Slam titles by excelling from the baseline. Out of the question for him to vary his game or go spontaneously to the net against aces of rise and variation of shots like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Staying behind his line and returning all the balls was enough. Otherwise, he was no match for it.
But with age also comes a little more wisdom. And Djokovic managed to adapt. To change without distorting oneself. The 36-year-old will remain a parasite in the backfield until his retirement. However, to beat the youngest, he had to add strings to his bow.
From the first set, however, Djokovic showed him who was boss. With a break and a 3-0 lead, the Serb not only had the wind in his sails, but he was sailing above the biggest wave, seeing Medvedev’s threats for miles around. By mid-round, Djokovic had completely demolished and ruined his opponent’s game plan and patterns.
The next two sets were closer, mainly because the Russian recovered well on serve, but also because he started to vary his shots, in power and length.
This is when the visibly diminished and sore Joker had to adjust. His mission was to shorten the exchanges. This meeting was not one of finesse, with exchanges of 27, 28 and sometimes 31 shots. This fight was one of titans. Where bullets fled and exclamations flew.
Djokovic was forced to deploy his final weapon: the volley. He went to the net 44 times. And he won the point 37 times. A sensational ratio and a superbly executed strategy.
“If I had known it was your wedding anniversary, maybe I would have played differently,” Djoko joked, looking at Medvedev’s wife in the stands after the latter apologized to her. of her for having lost on such a special day.
At the end of a 3 hour and 17 minute battle, Djokovic donned a Lacoste jacket on which appeared a huge “24” formed of crocodiles.
“I keep saying it, but I’m really living my childhood dream,” Djokovic confessed.
After a missed forehand from Medvedev ended in the net, the champion remained calm. His celebration was sober, almost disappointing. But it was with his family that he became himself again. By hugging his daughter Tara, to the melody of Bulletproof, by La Roux, and by grabbing the actor Matthew McConaughey, in his box, arriving directly from Texas.
Some service games, 12 and 13 minutes long, were complex. The tiebreaker of the second set almost escaped him at 5-4. Medvedev even had a set point in the previous game.
But Djokovic being who he is, he found a way. Because he always finds it. By claiming another victim. “I believe you will be in several more finals. I don’t know when you plan to slow down,” Medvedev blurted.
In his last five major titles, Djokovic has beaten five different players: Medvedev on Sunday, preceded by Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini. Five endings that can be dissected in unique ways. No matchup has gone in five innings.
For the fourth time in his career, after 2021, 2015 and 2011, Djokovic concludes the season having won three of the four major titles.
Like the great author he has become, Djokovic will have to wait some time before writing his next great story. Like J. K. Rowling or Stephen King, the next chapter of the saga is eagerly awaited. People will snap up the copies, as if they will disappear in time. Yet, everything Novak Djokovic touches tends to turn into something unchanging.