Russia’s Medvedev wins maiden Grand Slam, beats Djokovic in US Open final

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev has won his maiden Grand Slam, beating Djokovic with straight three sets (6-4 6-4 6-4) at the US Open final.

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 21st major title that would have completed the calendar-year Grand Slam collapsed at the final hurdle as Medvedev, playing in his third major final, at last hoisted a Grand Slam trophy while avenging a straight sets defeat by Djokovic earlier this year in the Australian Open final.

The Serb was trying to become the first man in over a half-century to win all four majors (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) in the same year.

Such was Medvedev’s domination that the only tiny bit of drama came late when the Serb was suddenly hit by a bout of nerves.

Djokovic took out his frustration later in the game in a much safer way. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/DHqYHgiEAv

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 12, 2021

Djokovic almost thinks about it but stops just in time 😬 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/KnrTgbJJLt

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 12, 2021

The New York crowd had never really embraced Djokovic the way it wrapped its arms around Swiss Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who have also won 20 Grand Slam titles.

It had also shown no real love for Medvedev. But no amount of urging could lift Djokovic’s game.

While an extraordinary women’s final on Saturday between teenagers Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez had softened the spotlight’s glare in which the British player clinched her maiden win for the country after 44 years. The women’s final was the first Grand Slam to feature two unseeded players.