Djokovic wins third U.S. Open title
NEW YORK The U.S. Open final appeared to be slipping away from Novak Djokovic. He dropped three straight games. He was angered by a crowd roaring for his popular opponent, Juan Martin del Potro. He was, in short, out of sorts.
Then came Sunday’s pivotal game, a 20-minute, 22-point epic. Three times, del Potro was a point from breaking and earning the right to serve to make it a set apiece. Three times, Djokovic steeled himself. Eventually, he seized that game — and del Potro’s best chance to make a match of it.
A year after missing the U.S. Open because of an injured right elbow that would require surgery, Djokovic showed he is unquestionably back at his best and back at the top of tennis.
His returns and defence-to-offence skills as impeccable as ever, Djokovic collected his 14th Grand Slam title and second in a row by getting through every crucial moment for a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over 2009 champion del Potro at Flushing Meadows.
This was Djokovic’s third championship in New York, along with those in 2011 and 2015. Add in the trophies he has earned at six Australian Opens, one French Open and four Wimbledons, most recently in July, and the 31-year-old Serb pulled even with Pete Sampras for the third-most majors among men, trailing only Roger Federer’s 20 and Rafael Nadal’s 17.
“I was hoping he was going to be here, but he’s not,” Djokovic said about Sampras.
“He’s my idol. Pete, I love you.” Federer lost in the fourth round in New York, while Nadal retired from his semifinal against del Potro because of a bad right knee.
That put the 29-year-old Argentine back in a Grand Slam final for the first time since his breakthrough nine years ago, a comeback for a guy who had four wrist operations.
“I’d just like to congratulate Juan Martin ... for still having faith, for still having belief in himself,” said Djokovic, who gave his pal a hug at the net, and later went over to console del Potro as he wiped away tears at his sideline seat.
“I believe he’ll be here again with the champion’s trophy. I really do.”
Djokovic was better on their many lengthy exchanges, using his trademark body-twisting, limbsplaying court coverage to get to nearly every ball, sneakers squeaking around the blue court in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the roof was closed because of rain.
“Of course I’m sad I (lost),” del Potro said. “But I’m happy for Novak and his team. They deserve to win.”