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Tennis | US Open 2021 | Daniil Medvedev stands in Novak Djokovic’s way of tennis history at the US Open final

Tony Fairbairn
Tennis
  • Novak Djokovic [1] v Daniil Medvedev [2]
  • H2H: Djokovic leads 5-3
NEW YORK, USA – Daniil Medvedev is the only obstacle standing in the way of Novak Djokovic’s historic bid to win the Calendar grand slam at the US Open.  

 

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Novak Djokovic [1] v Daniil Medvedev [2] H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Novak Djokovic will look at tennis immortality as he tries to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the calendar grand slam while Daniil Medvedev is looking to win his maiden grand slam.

Novak Djokovic [1] v Daniil Medvedev [2]

H2H: Djokovic leads 5-3

US Open

New York, USA

Hard (O)

Prize Money: $1,250,000/$2,500,000

Arthur Ashe Stadium at 9pm BST

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Djokovic leads the head-to-head although Medvedev has already beaten Djokovic in some big events.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Hard)

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H2H:

Novak Djokovic (WR 1)

Daniil Medvedev (WR 2)

Tournament Previous Best

Winner (2011, 2015, 2018)

Runner-Up (2019)

1st Serve %

66.1

62.7

Service Games Won %

89.3

89.6

Break Points Saved %

71.3

67

2nd Serve Return Points Won %

53.8

57.8

Break Points Converted %

49.7

50.7

Both players have ridiculously high stats in all areas which is what is going to make this match so compelling. However apart from 1st serve percentage and break points saved, it is the Russian who has the slight advantage heading into the final.

 

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Playing Styles and Prediction

The past couple of weeks has been a prime example why Djokovic is the man to beat in grand slam tennis with the Serb constantly reminding the world how he can raise his tennis when it matters in best of five sets.

Despite not playing his best consistently, Djokovic has sucked the life out of all his opponents and the semi-final against Alexander Zverev was a reminder of that in his five set win.

Ahead of the match on Sunday Djokovic has said that he plans on treating the historic occasion of potentially winning a calendar grand slam like it was the last match of his career:

“I’m going to treat this match as it’s my last one because it’s arguably the most important one of my career maybe,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by ATPTour.com

“I’m just trying to lock into what I know works for me. I have my routines, I have my people. I isolate myself. I gather all the necessary energy for the next battle, only the next match, the next match. I’m focussing on recovery, recalibrating all the systems for Sunday. I’m not going to waste time or energy on anything that can just be a distraction and deplete me from the vital energy that I need for Sunday.”

Standing in Djokovic’s way on Sunday is Medvedev who has only lost one set in the entire tournament and has been comfortably dispatching his opponents.

Despite not playing his best tennis a straight sets victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime all but confirmed his confidence heading into his third grand slam final.

Speaking in his on-court interview Medvedev admitted he didn’t play his best against the Canadian and he is looking forward to playing in his second US Open final:

“I think everyone felt like it was going to be one set all and then you never know where the match would go. I managed to save the set points and the match turned around completely,” Medvedev was quoted as saying by ATPTour.com about his semi-final win.

“I don’t think I played my best today, but I am really happy to be in the final on Sunday. If it is going to be the same match on Sunday [as the 2019 US Open final] I just hope I can win this time.”

Medvedev will need to be at his best especially on return if he wants to cause Djokovic problems. Both players have been serving well but it’s been the Russian who has been the most clinical.

This will need to change from a Djokovic point of view as we know Medvedev is more than capable of physically hanging with the best players in the world.

It should a phenomenal end to a crazy US Open and although Djokovic is the favourite expect the unexpected with history and pressure as high stakes await the world number one.

Prediction: Djokovic in five sets.

 

 

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