A look back at Daniil Medvedev’s US Open victory in 2021

The US Open is just around the corner as tennis fans look forward to the final Grand Slam of the year. Carlos Alcaraz retained his Wimbledon title in a dominant display in London and heads to Flushing Meadows as one of the favourites, putting him within touching distance of a career Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic won last year’s US Open with victory over Alcaraz in New York. Despite struggling with injury, the Serbian has put in a valiant effort this season and, alongside Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner, has a genuine shot of reigning supreme on the hard court of Flushing Meadows.

Daniil Medvedev to win 2024 US Open could be a shot from left of field, however, as the Russian won his maiden Grand Slam in this Major three years ago.

The current world number five defeated Djokovic at Flushing Meadows to deny a first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s singles since Rod Laver in 1969 in a crushing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory that announced Medvedev on the scene.

In this article, we cast our minds back to the summer of 2021, with the pandemic ending and fans eagerly anticipating one of the most exciting tennis games in recent years. Read on as we look at Medvedev’s journey to US Open success.

Pre-tournament form

Medvedev entered the 2021 US Open as the second seed, reflecting his consistent performances on the tour and solid ranking.

He was in a fine run of form after winning the Canadian Open and reaching the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters, edged out narrowly by Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev.

The Road to the Final

Throughout the tournament, Medvedev displayed a high level of play, losing only one set on his path to the final.

In the quarter-finals, he faced the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, the tournament’s surprise package. Despite dropping a set, Medvedev maintained control to win in four sets.

In the semi-finals, he met Felix Auger-Aliassime, a rising star from Canada. Medvedev’s experience and tactical prowess were too much for the ambitious Canadian, as he secured a straight-sets victory to advance to his second Grand Slam final.

The Grand Finale

Coming into the final match at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic had the upper hand on Medvedev in their individual battles, beating him in his first Major in the Australian Open. The Serbian was dominant that night in Melbourne, but roles were reversed this time around in a game that shocked the tennis odds.

Medvedev’s powerful serve, consistent baseline play, and tactical brilliance overwhelmed Djokovic, who struggled with unforced errors and the immense pressure of the occasion, with a calendar Grand Slam on the line.

The straight sets victory ensured the Russian had won his first-ever Grand Slam, with a tactically brilliant performance that made sure to put his name on the map after previous disappointment down under. After being the nearly man for most of 2021, now was Medvedev’s time.

“I do feel sorry for Novak because I cannot imagine what he feels. I don’t know this feeling. It definitely makes it sweeter. I mean, a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam,” he said.

“For the confidence and for my future career, knowing that I beat somebody who was 27-0 in a year in Grand Slams – I lost to him in Australia, he was going for huge history, and knowing that I managed to stop him – it definitely makes it sweeter and brings me confidence for what is to come.”

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