NOVAK Djokovic will take on Daniel Medvedev in the US Open men’s singles final tomorrow after both secured victories in semi-finals overnight.
While Serbian Djokovic overcame American Blake Shelton just before midnight Nigerian time, Russia’s Medvedev saw off defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the early hours of today.
The 36-year-old Djokovic, who has won more Grand Slam titles than any man with 23, used his experience to overcome young Shelton, battling past his 20-year-old opponent 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 to reach his 10th US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Shelton had finished off opponents in the tournament with his big serve, but second seed Djokovic was able to put his vast experience to stop a third-set surge from the young American.
“Obviously I knew that he’s got a lot of firepower. He has an amazing pop on the serve, he’s just so dynamic and very unpredictable what comes next,” Djokovic said after the win in front of a crowd of Americans who backed his opponent.
“I just had to stay there mentally, present, calm, and focus on the game plan.”
In the second semi-final, third seed Medvedev prevailed 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in a fascinating encounter under Arthur Ashe Stadium’s closed roof that ended Alcaraz’s reign as Flushing Meadows champion.
“I said I needed to play 11 out of 10, I played 12 out of 10 – except the third set, that’s the only way,” Medvedev said in on-court remarks.
“To beat him you need to be better than yourself and I managed to do it.”
Medvedev’s upset denied tennis fans a repeat of the Alcaraz versus Novak Djokovic final witnessed at Wimbledon, an epic battle which the 20-year-old Spaniard won in July.
PHOTO: Novak Djokovic after beating Blake Shelton.
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