Novak Djokovic is just one match away from achieving what no player has done since 1988 (Steffi Graf) and no man has done since 1969 (Rod Laver): completing the Grand Slam. It’s a term often misused to describe a Major tournament, but the Grand Slam is specifically winning all four Majors in the same calendar year. Incredibly, it would also be his 21st Major overall, surpassing both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most all-time in the men’s game. This could be one of the most monumental days in tennis history.
But Daniil Medvedev is keen to play spoiler. This is the third Major final for the 25-year-old Russian, which have all come on hard courts, his signature surface. Two years ago at this event, he pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets in a thrilling championship match, winning over the same New York crowd that had booed him throughout the tournament. Seven month ago in Australia, he was dominated by Djokovic by a score of 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. However, it seems the Russian is ready to provide much more resistance on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Daniil Medvedev (2) – 4:00pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Overall Djokovic leads their head-to-head- 5-3, with the Australian Open final serving as their last encounter. Novak leads 4-2 on hard courts, and 2-0 at Majors, with both matches occurring in Melbourne. Medvedev’s three victories have come at Masters 1000 events and the ATP Finals. And that’s the crucial point here: Daniil has never defeated Novak in best-of-five, nor been able to push him to a fifth set.
Djokovic has become a master of this format, as evidenced by his run this fortnight. He has dropped the first set in his last four matches, yet remarkably won them all rather comfortably. Even when Sascha Zverev forced a fifth set in Friday’s semfiinals, Novak took that set 6-2. Medvedev’s run in New York has been much more straightforward, dropping only one set. He’s been clinical in dismissing opponents, and I found his complete lack of celebration after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals quite revealing. Daniil fully expected to win that match, and will not be satisfied unless he takes the title.
This should be a stellar final, with so much on the line. I do not anticipate another straight-set victory for Djokovic like earlier this year. We really haven’t seen Novak tighten up at a crucial moment while chasing the Grand Slam at either Wimbledon or the US Open, but that must happen at some point, right? And this is not Rod Laver Arena, where Djokovic has never lost in the championship match. The Serbian is surprisingly only 3-5 in finals on Arthur Ashe Stadium. I think Medvedev truly believes he can win this match, and would revel in going down in history as the player who prevented Novak from completing the Grand Slam. However, I cannot get the words Novak said in his post-match interview on Friday out of my head: “I am going to treat my next match like it is the last match of my career.” Djokovic realizes what a unique opportunity this is to secure two of tennis’ greatest feats on the same day, and is ready to give absolutely everything he has to make that happen. Echoing the famous sentiment of Billie Jean King, Novak has treated the pressure of this moment as a privilege. He has fully embraced it, and I do not see him being denied.
Also on Sunday, the women’s doubles championship will be decided, as Coco Gauff and Katy McNally play their first Major final against 2019 Australian Open champions Sam Stosur and Shuai Zhang at 1:00pm local time on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.
