Djokovic Wins 24th Grand Slam After Defeating Medvedev in 2023 Men’s Final of U.S. Open

Cece Hampton ’24

Sports Editor

On Sunday, Sept. 10, the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York welcomed thousands of tennis fans in attendance for the men’s final of the 2023 U.S. Open. The matchup was between Novak Djokovic, who holds the world’s No. 1 rank in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATA), and No. 3 ranked Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic won the match in just three sets, going 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 to take home the victory. This is the third Grand Slam event Djokovic has won this season, and his fourth season to do so. At 36 years old, the Serbian tennis star is the oldest U.S. Open men’s winner in the Open Era. Just two years ago, Djokovic and Medvedev faced each other in the 2021 U.S. Open final, with Medvedev claiming victory, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. This remains Medvedev’s only Grand Slam title thus far in his career. Djokovic’s achievement of 24 grand slams ties him with former Australian pro tennis player Margaret Court for most Grand Slam titles in tennis history.

Djokovic came into this year’s tournament seeded at number two, with 20-yearold Spanish tennis star and fan favorite Carlos Alcaraz seeded at one. Alcaraz took home the Wimbledon trophy this past July after defeating Djokovic in the final match of the championship, earning the second major title of his career. For the better part of the U.S. Open tournament, tennis fans eagerly expected a rematch between Djokovic and Alcaraz in the men’s singles final. However, Medvedev defeated the reigning Wimbledon champion in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, 7(7)-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Meanwhile, American players exceeded expectations in the tournament. The 21-year-old American Ben Shelton made it all the way to the semi-finals, taking on Djokovic, but ultimately losing 6-3, 6-2, 7(7)-6(4). The media has deemed Shelton’s performance at the 2023 his “big break,” and speculate that he has a lot of success ahead of him. Shelton will go on to make his debut in the Laver Cup later this month in Vancouver, representing Team World in the tennis competition.

Djokovic’s 24th Grand Slam title sets him two ahead of long-time rival Rafael Nadal, who holds 22. Nadal did not participate in the U.S. Open this year, as he continues to recover from a hip injury he experienced at the Australian Wimbledon earlier this year. Looking forward into the next season, Djokovic could likely achieve the leading record for Grand Slam titles.