- Daniil Medvedev vs Novak Djokovic US Open title 2023 run was epic but regretful
- Medvedev says he erred in game play and strategy yet he was facing off with a big wig
- The Russian had a rocky start with errors streaming from his racket during his opening service game
Daniil Medvedev vs Novak Djokovic US Open title 2023 run was epic but regretful for the Russian player.
Medvedev says he erred in gameplay and strategy yet he was facing off with a big wig known for his tennis wit. Djokovic, 36, beat Medvedev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 for the US Open 2023 title in one of the most electrifying Grand Slam finals.
The Russian had a rocky start with errors streaming from his racket during his opening service game. In contrast, Djokovic entered the match with a clear intention to seize control by taking the ball early and asserting dominance from the baseline with his forehand.
This strategy paid off as he managed to break Medvedev’s serve and navigated through a series of predictably long and attritional exchanges to secure the set.
Then, in the second set, Medvedev and Djokovic subjected each other to lengthy rallies and their feet bore the brunt of it.
Daniil Medvedev at the US Open. Photo/Action Network
At one point, this strategy seemed to work for Medvedev as Djokovic struggled with keeping the right pace and bomb serves.
However, the now world No.1 resorted to volley and serve technique in bagging a crucial point, which Medvedev took heat for despite keeping Djokovic on his knees.
Despite all this, Medvedev’s most notable opportunity came at 6-5 with a set point as Djokovic attempted a serve and volley.
But witty Djokovic slyly sent a powerful volley to Medvedev after volleying a straight shot. This was a huge technical error for the Russian who should have sent a backhand shot to Djokovic rather than a straight shot.
Looking back at how things went in Flushing Meadows, he says he chose the wrong tactics and he regrets it because he should have won the US Open 2023 title.
“Regrets, for sure. Should have won it. Should have won it,” he told the press after the match.
He added: “Sometimes tennis is not that easy. Passing for sure down the line, not cross, but I have two choices and I chose the wrong one.”
After an eight-month hiatus due to injury, Medvedev entered the US Open with a solid resolve to win his second Grand Slam.
Daniil Medvedev at the US Open 2023. Photo/San Diego Union
He faced off with Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open 2023 semi-finals and beat him in what he says was a result of planning a flawless game mentally and physically.
Alcaraz won the 2022 US Open as his first Grand Slam and followed it up with a second major win at this year’s Wimbledon.
Medvedev won with an amazing 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 set victory over Alcaraz. However, Djokovic proved too strong of a competitor for him.
Djokovic said that it was a hard tackle playing against Medvedev because he is a strong competitor. Still, it was both emotional and sweet for him to triumph over the Russian in one of the matches that the world was closely following.
An emotional Djokovic says that such are the events that motivate him to give his best.
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