US Open 2021 LIVE – Djokovic Through to Finals: Djokovic makes it to his 9th US Open Final, exacts Olympics revenge in five-set thriller vs Zverev – Novak Djokovic channelled his nerves of steel as the World No.1 clinched an epic five-set win over Alexander Zverev in the US Open semi-final. Djokovic clinched the match 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to make it to his ninth US Open Final, to set up a clash against Daniil Medvedev. The Serbian ace remains on course to achieve a historic Career Slam, having won all three Grand Slams this year – Follow all LIVE Updates
Djokovic vs Medevedev in Finals: Should he win, it will be his 21st Grand Slam title, the most by a men’s singles player, ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal who are both tied at 20 each. The final against Daniil Medvedev will be his ninth at the Flushing Meadows and his 31st overall, tying Roger Federer’s record for the most number of Grand Slam final appearances.
Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer’s record with his 3️⃣1️⃣st Grand Slam final. pic.twitter.com/pMe34rqUxn
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
US Open 2021 LIVE: Djokovic in 9th US Open Final, exacts Olympics revenge in five-set thriller vs Zverev, 1 win away from rewriting Tennis history
US Open 2021 LIVE – Djokovic Through to Finals: Alexander Zverev the 24-year-old fought hard, ultimately was not good enough to stop Djokovic and his quest for tennis immortality in New York this weekend.
No. 4 seed Zverev took the opening set and also wrestled the fourth from Djokovic, but the world No. 1 responded with inspired tennis to sweep through the final set to notch a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 triumph that places him on the precipice of history.
Djokovic vs Medevedev in Finals: With his triumph, Djokovic sets a final with No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev as he moves to within one victory of becoming the first male tennis player to win the Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
“I know that people would like to hear me talk about it but there is not much to talk about,” Djokovic said of his quest. “There is only one match leftーall in. I’m going to put my heart and my soul and my body and my head into that one. I’m going to treat the next match like it is the last match of my career.”
Can Djokovic do Rod Laver? If Djokovic needed a reminder of the immense gravity of the moment, he only had to peer at the President’s Suite behind the baseline on the south end of Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the legendary Laver himself sat enjoying the battle.
Laver, who won 11 major titles in his day, including two at the US Open, settled in for a back-and-forth tussle that featured an incredible 53-stroke rally in the third set and was concluded in three hours and 34 minutes.
By knocking out Zverev in five sets, Djokovic has toppled the man who snuffed out his Golden Slam hopes at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Zverev rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Djokovic and earn the biggest title of his career. On Friday, Djokovic restored order at the top of the men’s game, and remained unbeaten against one of his biggest threats at the Grand Slams.
US Open 2021 LIVE: Djokovic in 9th US Open Final, exacts Olympics revenge in five-set thriller vs Zverev, 1 win away from rewriting Tennis history
US Open 2021 LIVE – Djokovic Through to Finals: Alexander Zverev started off well sealing the first set in style, but it was Djokovic who stepped up to take the next two sets and put a stronghold on the match. However, the German again proved to be a thorn in the flesh and took the fourth set, forcing a decider, which Djokovic cruised through, showcasing his pedigree and class. The World No.1 also exacted revenge on Zverev, who had famously knocked him out of gold medal contention in the Tokyo Olympics.
US Open 2021 Semifinals LIVE: Alexander Zverev vs Novak Djokovic- Follow LIVE updates
Set 5
This man is unstoppable. @DjokerNole | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/7wHDU2CbdN
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
- Djokovic seals his third break of the fifth set, wins 6-2 to make his ninth US Open Final.
- Zverev wins his serve and breaks to reduce the deficit to 5-2. Djokovic to serve for a place in the US Open Final.
- Djokovic goes 5-0 ahead after yet another service game win
- Djokovic is not messing around as he clinches a double break, onto a 4-0 lead in the final set.
- The World No.1 is three games away from a ninth US Open Final as he pushes into a 3-0 lead.
- Djokovic breaks early, takes a 2-0 lead to put him in command of the decider.
- Djokovic starts off with a service game, takes a 1-0 lead.
Set 4
HEADED TO A FIFTH pic.twitter.com/04QDWmF3Sb
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
- Zverev holds and takes the set to force a fifth set in what has been a thrilling contest so far.
- Djokovic holds his service to make it 5-4. Zverev to serve for the set.
- Zverev serves well moves into a 5-3 lead, a break away from the fifth set.
- Djokovic holds onto his serve, makes it 4-2
- Zverev holds onto his serve, claims a pivotal three-game lead in a do-or-die set.
- Zverev clinches an early break, as he looks to force a fifth set. The German goes 2-1 ahead.
- Both Djokovic and Zverev hold on to their opening service games of Set 4 to make it 1-1
Set 3
He’s one set away from a 9️⃣th #USOpen final@DjokerNole takes the third set 6-4 over Zverev. pic.twitter.com/RLiYg0cUyj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
- Djokovic breaks, takes set 3 to go within a set of reaching the US Open final.
- Djokovic now a break away from winning the set, takes his fifth game of the third set.
- Zverev holds on to his service again, makes it 4-4.
- Djokovic wastes no time in going ahead again, clinches game 7 to make it 4-3 in his favour.
- The seesaw battle continues, Zverev holds on to his serve to make it 3-3.
- Djokovic takes lead again after surviving two breakpoints, with Set 3 heading towards an exciting finish.
- Zverev holds his serve again to make it 2-2.
- Djokovic has upped his service since the set 1 break and goes 2-1 ahead.
- Zverev hits back despite intense pressure from Djokovic, holds on to make it 1-1.
- Djokovic begins set 3, goes 1-0 ahead on his serve.
Set 2
Novak Djokovic wins the second set after dropping the first.
Again. 😤 pic.twitter.com/6giDf8PrgZ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
- Djokovic breaks to take the second set 6-2.
- Alexander Zverev reduces the deficit but Djokovic marches on to a 5-2 lead.
- Djokovic takes lead to 3-0.
- Djokovic takes an early break, goes 2-0 up as he aims to mount a comeback.
Set 1
👀
Zverev wins the first set in impressive fashion. pic.twitter.com/er25ie3ARl
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
- Serving for the set, Zverev made the most of his advantage to go 1-0 up in the semis. 6-4
- Alexander Zverev breaks, takes a two-point lead before a Djokovic double fault hands him a 5-4 advantage.
- Back and forth game continues, first set all square at 4-4.
- The Tokyo gold medallist sends down four unanswered points as things level up at 3-3.
- Zverev threatens to break but Djokovic holds on, goes 3-2 up after five games.
- Zverev hits back in response, takes his service to level things at 2-2.
- Djokovic sends down yet another dominating service game, goes 2-1 up.
- Alexander Zverev holds his serve, remains on Djokovic’s toes 1-1.
- Novak Djokovic starts off with an ace, follows it up with neat serves to go 1-0 up
US Open 2021 LIVE – Djokovic Through to Finals:
US Open 2021 LIVE: Djokovic in 9th US Open Final, exacts Olympics revenge in five-set thriller vs Zverev, 1 win away from rewriting Tennis history