On a still September evening inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev 6–3, 7–6(5), 6–3 to win the US Open title. The victory gave him his 24th Grand Slam singles trophy, the outright Open-era record, tying Margaret Court’s all-time mark across men’s and women’s tennis.
A set point turned inside out
The final swung decisively late in the second set. Serving at 6-5, Medvedev earned a set point and lined up a backhand passing shot down the line. He chose crosscourt instead, and Djokovic reflexed a volley into the open court to extinguish the chance.
That exchange capped a draining 104-minute stanza. Djokovic had never lost a two-set lead at the US Open, and the statistic held firm once more.
Redemption after the longest drought
Flushing Meadows had become Djokovic’s most stubborn major. From nine previous finals he had won just three, and five years had passed since his last trophy in Queens — his longest barren stretch at any Slam.
The victory also rewrote the ledger against Medvedev, who had beaten him in straight sets on the same court two years earlier to deny a calendar Grand Slam. Djokovic moved ahead 10-5 in their head-to-head and stretched his late-summer winning sequence to 12 matches.
The numbers that framed history
At 36 years and three months, Djokovic became the oldest Open-era men’s singles champion the US Open has seen. His 36th major final appearance set another record, and his net game was clinical — 84 percent of 44 approaches ended in points won.
With this result he returned to world No.1 and stood two majors clear of Rafael Nadal and four beyond the retired Roger Federer. He had already claimed the Australian Open and Roland-Garros that season, placing him one Slam from a calendar sweep.
A quiet embrace, then stillness
After the last point, Djokovic received a hug from his daughter courtside before climbing into his box. “To make history of this sport is just something truly remarkable and special,” he told the trophy ceremony crowd. “I never imagined that I would be here standing with you talking about 24 Slams.”
The moment settled softly over the stadium — a long pursuit completed in three measured sets, the number 24 now fixed alongside a name that came to tennis with no family pedigree, only an improbable choice.
