2021 US Open: Novak Djokovic beat Alexander Zverev in the Olympic Rematch, now heading to Sunday’s final.
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Novak Djokovic fell out against Alexander Zverev at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but got his revenge on Friday and is now far from history. Fighting five sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic beat Zverev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the U.S. Open final. Djokovic can reach No. 1 on the list of all-time Grand Slam champions and be the first Grand Slam winner on the calendar in 52 years to win the final.
Zverev took the first set, 6-4, but Djokovic backed down to win the second and third with a score of 6-2 and 6-4, respectively. This third set had a historic rally of 53 shots, the longest in the history of the U.S. Open finals and the longest in Djokovic’s career. After the match, Djokovic said he was going through a “hurricane” or “tornado” in that 53-shot rally.
With a strong fourth set of 6-4, Zverev forced a fifth to finally decide who would go to the U.S. Open final. An animated Djokovic put up a brave effort on Zverev’s side to dominate that final set, 6-2, and punched the card. Djokovic has now won 36-10 in five sets and a 7-3 win over Zverev.
“He’s a great guy and an even better player,” Djokovic said of Zverev. “I knew getting on the court today would be a big fight.”
If he wins in Sunday’s final, Djokovic will be awarded his 21st Grand Slam cap, placing him ahead of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – both of whom were injured at this year’s US Open – to set a men’s singles record. It would also be Djokovic’s fourth U.S. Open title.
Zverev, who is still seeking his first Grand Slam title, had a chance to make it to the second consecutive U.S. Open final after winning the runner-up championship at last year’s tournament. The first five sets in the recent history of the U.S. Open required a draw to determine that match, as Dominic Thiem won 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Djokovic holds the record for a major 27-0 championship in 2021. If Djokovic were to win the U.S. Open title, he would be the first men’s solo player to record a Grand Slam on Rod Laver’s calendar in 1969.
This was not the first time Djokovic and Zverev had fought in a high-stakes match. Zverev, a 24-year-old German, won Friday’s game after winning his last 16 matches, knocking Djokovic out of the finals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Zvereve would win gold in the end.
On Friday, world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev advanced to the U.S. Open final with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 win over No. 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime. This will be the third Grand Slam final of his career and he is looking for his first victory.
The 25-year-old Russian will be a huge challenge for Djokovic. He has dropped only one set in this tournament and reached the 2019 US Open final in a fall match against Rafael Nadal.
Medvedve has beaten Djokovic three times in ATP trials. The pair were also measured at the February Australian Open, with Djokovic winning the title 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.
The U.S. Open men’s singles final will be held at 4 p.m., in East Flushing, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
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