NEW YORK – A game from the end of his bid for what would have been the first calendar year Grand Slam in men’s tennis since 1969, Novak Djokovic covered his face with a towel, hiding his tears during a changeover.
For 27 Grand Slam matches in 2021, on hard courts, clay courts and grass, Djokovic could not be deterred, could not be beaten. Needing one more victory, in the U.S. Open final Sunday against Daniil Medvedev, to complete a season sweep of major tournament titles and to secure the record 21st of his career, Djokovic could not come through.
Outplayed by someone using a similar style to his own, Djokovic came up short of those two historic milestones, losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to first-time major champion Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
What was in Djokovic’s thoughts as he sat there on the sideline, knowing full well his quest was moments from its conclusion?
“Relief. I was glad it was over, because the buildup for this tournament, and everything that mentally, emotionally, I had to deal with throughout the tournament in the last couple of weeks was just a lot. It was a lot to handle,” Djokovic said at his news conference. “I was just glad that, finally, the run is over. At the same time, I felt sadness, disappointment – and also gratitude for the crowd and for that special moment that they’ve created for me on the court.”