DJOK & A SMILE
Tops Fed for epic Open win
One of the great singleseason performances in the Open era ended in a spectacular victory for Novak Djokovic despite a wild Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd trying to will the 34yearold Roger Federer to one last title in Flushing Meadows.
Djokovic fought off wounds to his leg and arm after an early nasty spill Sunday night and overcame the overzealous sellout, proFederer crowd that cheered the Serbian’s service faults despite multiple warnings from the chair umpire.
After tennis’ two titans split the first two sets, Djokovic seized control midway through the third as the players lifted their games with punishing angles and athletic retrievals in one of the bestplayed Open men’s final in recent memory.
Djokovic posted a fourset win — 64, 57, 64, 64 in 3 hours 20 minutes to capture his second U.S. Open, 10th major overall and most impressively, third of 2015.
Yes, Djokovic ends the 2015 campaign having won as many majors (three) as Serena Williams, overshadowed most of the summer because of Williams’ bid for a true Grand Slam.
“It was a wonderful last two weeks,’’ Federer said during the trophy ceremony. “It was a massive challenge playing Novak and I enjoyed it. We walk away from it knowing more about our games and ourselves.’’
Federer, in his first Open final since 2009, fought to the bitter end. When it looked over, Djokovic getting up two breaks in the fourth set at 52, Federer broke back to get it to one. Djokovic served for the match at 54 but fell behind 1540. The Serbian survived both, but Federer hit a backhand winner for another break point. Djokovic again escaped and closed out the match.
“He showed why he’s a champion and made me play to the last point,’’ Djokovic said. “I have to share my admiration for Roger and still what he’s doing for tennis.’’
Federer had a tremendous amount of chances — an astounding 23 break points, but converted just four, the key stat of the match.
“He surely didn’t give me much,” Federer said about the breakpoint opportunities, “but I still should have done better.”
The only thing that prevented Djokovic from the first men’s Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969 was a French Open finals defeat to Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic is only the third player in the Open era to reach the finals of all four majors in a single year. Only Federer, considered the greatest player of all time, and Laver did it previously.
And now Federer is stuck on 17 Grand Slam titles with this heartbreaking loss. Djokovic, at 10 majors, moves a touchdown from tying the Swiss Maestro and is only 28 years old. They are 2121 in their meetings.
The chants of “Roger, Roger’’ bounce d off the stadium’s new steel superstructure all night. After winning some key points, Djokovic defiantly clenched his fists, shaking them as he looked up at the crowd.
“He absolutely deserves to have that support because of all the years and success he’s had and the way he carries himself on and off the court,” Djokovic said after the match.
“To receive the crowd support that I did, I don’t consider that normal,” Federer said. “They kept me going. That’s definitely one of the reasons I keep playing, because of those goosebump moments.”