Djoker’s getting serious about calendar slam
NOVAK DJOKOVIC will take on the biggest match of his life tonight as if it’s his last.
And if that doesn’t send a shiver down Daniil Medvedev’s spine then nothing will.
The world
No.1 will walk on to Arthur Ashe knowing he’s three sets away from history – the first calendar-year men’s Grand Slam since Rod Laver in
1969 AND overtaking Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s haul of
20 majors. That’s all the incentive this machine of a tennis player needs and it was the motivation required to edge past Alexander Zverev in a five-set US Open semi-final thriller on Friday night.
It has set up the clash with Medvedev (above), who has cruised through the tournament and fancies his chances of reversing the defeat he suffered to Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
Medvedev, 25, said: “I think from my side, if I can make this, I’ll probably be in the history books for not letting him do this. But I don’t really care about it. I think it’s more about him, that it affects him.
“For sure he’s going to feel the pressure a little bit about it. But that’s going to make him even better in tough moments. Let’s say he’s losing two sets to one or zero and have a break.
“Here we know that he will do everything to try to make it happen.” Djokovic, 34, agrees with the Russian’s belief that he is going to fight more than ever to make history.
“I know it’s on the line,” the Serb said. “Of course, I’m aware of it.
“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 going to treat this match as if it’s my last one because it’s arguably the most important one of my career. Maybe not, I don’t know. But of this year, for sure.
“It’s going to be a battle against another guy who has been in tremendous form, Medvedev. He’s won a lot of matches on hard courts so far.
“I’m sure he’s going to give it all to win it, to win his first slam.
“On the other side, I’ll be giving it all I’ve possibly got in the tank to win. “The excitement is there. The motivation is there, without a doubt. Probably more than ever.
“But I have one more to go.”
RAFA NADAL said he was recovering at home after receiving treatment for the foot problem that forced him to cut short his 2021 season. The 20-time major winner pulled out of Wimbledon and the Olympics.