Djokovic bids for history at US Open
NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic remembers just how close Serena Williams came to a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2015 before coming up short at the U.S. Open.
He recalls chatting with Williams during that tournament about all that went along with a bid for the rare achievement, which has only been accomplished by two men and three women in the history of a sport that dates to the late 1800s.
After winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Williams was upset in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows by Roberta Vinci. Now Djokovic is a step closer, heading into the U.S. Open final on Sunday against Daniil Medvedev needing one more victory to go 28-0 at Grand Slam tournaments and claim all four trophies in a single season.
No man has done that since Rod Laver did it for a second time in 1969, no woman since Steffi Graf in 1988. (Laver was in the stands for Friday’s semifinals and is expected to be there Sunday, too).
As the end line neared six years ago, Williams was not fond of discussing what was at stake, describing herself as “fed up” by constant questions about the true Grand Slam.
“She was very emotional about everything that was going on. I can relate to what she’s been going through right now. I understand it now,” said Djokovic, a 34-year-old from Serbia. “I understand why she wanted to avoid all the questions about it, because in the end of the day, you have to go out on the court and deliver. You’re expected to always win.”
“I’ll be giving it all I’ve possibly got in the tank to win this match. I’m focusing on recovery, recalibrating all the systems, basically, for Sunday,” he said after eliminating No. 4 Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the semifinals. “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.”
In addition to the quest to go 4 for 4 at Slams, the No. 1-ranked Djokovic has another milestone in his sights. If he beats No. 2 Medvedev for a 21st career major championship, Djokovic would eclipse the men’s record he currently shares with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. A fourth title on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows would be added to a ninth on the hard courts of Melbourne Park in February, second on the clay of Roland Garros in June and sixth on the grass of Wimbledon in July.