There have been 14 earlier tour-level conferences between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, however there could also be just one at the back of every participant’s thoughts as they step out Sunday on Arthur Ashe Stadium to compete within the US Open championship match.

Medvedev’s straight-sets victory within the 2021 closing at Flushing Meadows will not be solely remembered because the second he lifted his maiden main trophy. Along with his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win, he additionally denied Djokovic a historic calendar-year Grand Slam. The 27-year-old will not be relying on the same final result this time round.

“I feel the one manner I can use [the 2021 final] is considering that Novak, when he loses, he is by no means the identical after. He is completely different. It is only a completely different mentality,” mentioned Medvedev on Friday evening after downing prime seed Carlos Alcaraz within the semi-finals. “That is why he has 23 Grand Slams, [all those] Masters 1000s and weeks at No. 1.

“So I’ve to make use of it realizing that he’ll be 10 instances higher than he was that day, and I’ve to be, if I need to nonetheless beat him, 10 instances higher than I used to be that day. That is what I will attempt to do.”

Daniil Medvedev” />

_{^{Medvedev in motion in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz on Friday in New York. Photograph Credit score: Al Bello/Getty Photographs}}

After narrowly lacking out to Alcaraz within the closing at Wimbledon, the calendar-year Grand Slam will not be on the road this time round for Djokovic in New York. But his triumphs this 12 months on the Australian Open and Roland Garros, which took him previous Rafael Nadal to a report 23 main males’s singles titles, have positioned him in history-setting territory at each main he enters regardless.

“I perceive each time in a Grand Slam closing, it is one other shot for historical past,” mentioned Djokovic after easing previous #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton within the semi-finals. “I am conscious of it, and naturally I am very pleased with it, however I haven’t got a lot time, nor do I enable myself to mirror on this stuff or take into consideration the historical past an excessive amount of on this sense. After I did that previously, just like the 2021 closing right here, I used to be possibly overwhelmed with the event and the chance, and I underperformed.

“I do not need this to occur once more, and I am going to attempt to simply concentrate on what must be executed and tactically put together myself for that match.”

Other than an exhilarating five-set comeback win in opposition to Laslo Djere within the third spherical, Djokovic has cruised to his record-equalling tenth US Open closing this fortnight with out dropping one other set. The 36-year-old’s return sport has been in significantly advantageous fettle all through and appeared to cope with Shelton’s lefty thunderbolts with ease on Friday. But Medvedev will nonetheless really feel his supply might be the important thing to getting on prime of the Serbian as he appears to be like to enhance his 29-5 US Open report.

“I are inclined to play aggressive, quick, I serve properly,” mentioned Medvedev when requested about potential causes behind his sturdy showings over time at Flushing Meadows. “Most likely the pace of the court docket helps me. For instance, Indian Wells, that I acquired to the ultimate was wonderful, as a result of I mainly cannot hit the ball there. It has nothing to do with my forehand, so I beat some good guys there, some good matches, however as quickly as I acquired somebody like Carlos along with his fashion of play, it was type of over for me.”

Confronted with an opponent equally as comfy settling in for prolonged rallies, Djokovic might look to take advantage of Medvedev’s famend deep returning place by transferring ahead to try to rating fast factors. The Serbian has loved success in opposition to Medvedev’s distinctive gamestyle previously — Djokovic holds a 9-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head collection lead in opposition to the World No. 3 and has received 4 of the pair’s 5 earlier tour-level conferences.

Most US Open (Previously US Nationwide Championships) Last Appearances Of All Time

Medvedev can look to the newest of these clashes for confidence, nevertheless. The 27-year-old downed the Serbian in straight units within the Dubai semi-finals in February, a win that got here within the midst of a 19-match successful streak on exhausting courts throughout February and March. Once more, nevertheless, Medvedev is cautious of a Djokovic hungry for revenge.

“Towards Novak, it is the identical. He’s at all times higher than the earlier time he performs,” mentioned Medvedev, who has solely crushed Djokovic in consecutive matches as soon as (Monte-Carlo & Cincinnati, 2019). “For instance, I beat him within the US Open closing [in 2021]; he beat me in Bercy in an important match. Carlos beat him at Wimbledon; [Novak] beat him in Cincinnati.

“Novak goes to be his finest model on Sunday, and I’ve to be the all time model of myself if I need to attempt to beat him.”

2023 Tour-level Win Leaders On Onerous Courts

Djokovic and Medvedev’s focus for Sunday’s closing could also be taking their closing likelihood for Grand Slam glory this season, however the outcome may even have massive implications for the race to complete as year-end No. 1. If Medvedev triumphs, he’ll transfer inside 1000 factors of each the Serbian and Alcaraz within the Pepperstone ATP Reside Race To Turin, organising an intriguing three-way battle for the ultimate few months of the season.

But stopping Djokovic from successful three majors in a calendar 12 months for the fourth time will likely be some process: The Serbian, who’s assured to usurp No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Alcaraz on Monday, enters the match with a 26-1 report on the majors this 12 months.

“I’m clearly over the moon with the outcomes thus far on Grand Slams,” mentioned Djokovic. “Taking part in in all 4 finals of all 4 Slams in a season is wonderful. It is the very best achievement I can take into consideration after I begin the season. That is what I dream about, that is what I actually wished, that is the place I need to be, in this sort of place.

“There may be one other match left, so after all this dialog will likely be most likely even higher if I win the title. However positively no matter occurs, I am extraordinarily proud and content material with what I’ve achieved this 12 months in Grand Slams.”