The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Djokovic ‘still hanging on,’ seeking majors
NEW YORK » Novak Djokovic was, understandably, deflated. The quest to do something no man has done in more than a halfcentury took a lot out of him, physically and emotionally.
The No. 1-ranked Djokovic acknowledged as much after crying during the last changeover of his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final.
What the 34-year-old from Serbia was not ready to do after coming agonizingly short — one victory short — in his attempt to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single season was to concede anything in the long term.
There is a new batch of talent making a push toward the top of the sport, but he will press forward.
Yes, Djokovic had spoken beforehand of giving everything he had against No. 2 Medvedev on Sept. 12, of treating it “like it is the last match of my career.” And, yes, Djokovic did come out flat and was outplayed. Not the best combination for Djokovic: He had an off day; Medvedev
had a great one. So, yes, Djokovic found the whole thing disappointing.
Of course he did. That’s only natural. To play so well and give so much, for so long, under an intense spotlight and burdened by pressure, from the outside and from within, is draining. No man had even won a year’s first three major titles, let alone the full quartet, since Rod Laver in 1969.
“It was a lot to handle,” Djokovic said.
He got 27 of the 28 victories necessary for a true Grand Slam.
He just couldn’t get the 28th.
“Part of me is very sad,” Djokovic said. “It’s a tough one to swallow, this loss, I mean, considering everything that was on the line.”
But he will play again, and he will resume his work to overtake rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and break their three-way tie for the most major championships earned by a man, 20. No one should, or would, be surprised if No. 21 for Djokovic arrives just a few months from now at next year’s Australian Open, a tournament he has won nine times.