![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/20230910200940-64fe62c26194889ae3a3dc24jpeg-696x464.jpg\" "\\"20230910200940-64fe62c26194889ae3a3dc24jpeg\\"\/")
<\/div>\nNovak Djokovic won a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title by outlasting Daniil Medvedev in a punishing US Open final in New York.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old Serb won 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 but the straight-set scoreline does not tell how deep he had to dig.<\/p>\n
A comfortable opening set was followed by a brutal second which lasted one hour and 44 minutes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After the pair exchanged breaks early in the third, Djokovic took control to level Margaret Court\u2019s 50-year record.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt obviously means the world to me,\u201d said Djokovic on winning his 24th major.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in this sport, which has given me and my family so much from difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought I would be here but the last couple of years I thought I had a shot at history. Why not grab it when it is presented?\u201d<\/p>\n
Second seed Djokovic looked physically troubled in that gruelling second set, but showed all the hallmarks of his greatness to win a fourth US Open title.<\/p>\n
Djokovic, who surpassed Rafael Nadal\u2019s record tally of 22 men\u2019s major titles earlier this year, has matched Australia\u2019s Court at the second attempt after losing the Wimbledon final in July.<\/p>\n
He has won three of the four Grand Slam titles in 2023, becoming the first man to achieve this feat on four occasions.<\/p>\n
Now the incoming world number one has the chance to surpass Court at January\u2019s Australian Open \u2013 where he has already won a record 10 titles.<\/p>\n
It felt fitting that Djokovic set up championship point by winning another lengthy rally and, after being made to wait to serve by shouts from the crowd, sealed victory when Medvedev hit a forehand into the net.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would definitely sign right away the paper if somebody would tell me I would win three out of four and play Wimbledon finals this year,\u201d Djokovic said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a little regret that I didn\u2019t win that Wimbledon final. But, at the end of the day, I have so much more to be happier and content with than actually to regret something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Djokovic shows again why he can never be written off<\/h3>\n
When Djokovic lost to 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final it felt like a changing-of-the-guard moment in the men\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
But, even in the twilight of his career, Djokovic continues to show he can never be written off.<\/p>\n
Djokovic has won eight of the past 12 majors he has played at and will replace Alcaraz again as the world number one on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not my interest or business to really review what everyone talks about or thinks, whether there is a passing of the torch, or whatever you want to call it, happening or not happening in the sport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI focus on what I need to do and how I get myself in an optimal state so that I can win the biggest trophies in our sport. That\u2019s what I care about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Djokovic was dialled in from the start of Sunday\u2019s final, playing patiently and precisely to break for a 2-0 lead, with Medvedev looking ragged as he fell 3-0 behind.<\/p>\n
With Medvedev deep behind the baseline when receiving, Djokovic smartly decided to serve-volley on his way to 4-1 \u2013 a tactic he employed throughout \u2013 and showed his all-round quality to close out the opening set.<\/p>\n
Djokovic had only lost from a set up at the US Open once on 73 previous occasions, against Switzerland\u2019s Stan Wawrinka in the 2016 final.<\/p>\n Djokovic\u2019s relentless returning continued to draw mistakes out of Medvedev, who was serving poorly and making loose errors, at the start of the second set.<\/p>\n The constant pressure led to another break point for Djokovic in the seventh game, but Medvedev hung on to hold as Djokovic tumbled on to the court after an energy-sapping 31-shot rally.<\/p>\n Something appeared to be troubling Djokovic physically as he held a long game for 4-4 and survived Medvedev\u2019s first break point of the match.<\/p>\n The Russian third seed was sticking longer in the rallies now, pushing Djokovic to his limits and creating a set point at 6-5 which the Serb saved with another serve and volley.<\/p>\n But Djokovic eventually got over the line to ensure a marathon set would be settled by a tie-break.<\/p>\n Medvedev led 5-4 when a stunning 23-shot point eventually went his way despite Djokovic\u2019s doggedness, only for the veteran to lock in again and win the next three points for a two-sets-to-love lead.<\/p>\n It was clear to see Medvedev had needed to level by taking that second set to stand any real chance of victory and the feeling of the inevitable was heightened by the Russian needing treatment on a shoulder injury before the third set.<\/p>\n He offered resistance by putting it back on serve at 3-2, but Djokovic broke again immediately and confidently clinched another famous win.<\/p>\n After shaking hands with his opponent, Djokovic sobbed as he knelt on the court before picking out his daughter Tara from the crowd.<\/p>\n Further tears followed as he went to celebrate with his nearest and dearest, which included parents Srdjan and Dijana, wife Jelena, son Stefan \u2013 and Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey.<\/p>\n Addressing his family, Djokovic thanked them for all their \u201csacrifices\u201d when he was a child growing up in war-torn Serbia in the 1990s.<\/p>\n \u201cThe odds were pretty much against me and my family. It was not accessible, not affordable, but I fell in love with tennis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cNo-one in my family played tennis but [there was] incredible resilience and belief from my family.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife, my kids, my team, this is your trophy as much as it is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Djokovic also pulled on a T-shirt which paid tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his friend who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2020 and wore 24 in his playing days.<\/p>\n \u201cKobe was a close friend, we chatted a lot about the winners\u2019 mentality when I was struggling with injury and trying to work my way back to the top.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was one of the people I relied on the most, he was always there for support in the most friendly way.<\/p>\n \u201cHis passing hurt me deeply and 24 is the jersey he wore at Lakers so I thought it would be nice to acknowledge him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Novak](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/_131052410_djoko.jpg\")
How Djokovic celebrated historic number 24<\/h3>\n