One remains of the Big Three, and he has not shown any indications of giving up.
After competing in the title matches of the first three major tournaments of 2023, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic ends his Grand Slam season on Sunday afternoon by competing in the U.S. Open final in New York.
A little after 4 p.m., Djokovic, who is still in excellent shape at the venerable age of 36 in tennis, takes against Daniil Medvedev, 27.
The U.S. men’s skid at Flushing Meadows was extended by Djokovic’s straight-set victory over American Blake Shelton on Friday. Since Andy Roddick’s victory at the U.S. Open in 2003—eight years before Djokovic won his first championship in Queens in 2011—American men have not won the singles event.
On Friday, Medvedev shocked Carlos Alcaraz, the top-ranked player in the world, to advance to the championship round.
Djokovic, who won the Australian and French Opens this year and lost a thrilling five-set championship showdown against Alcaraz at Wimbledon, faces Medvedev in the tournament as the underdog.
Djokovic broke a tie with longtime rival and winner of 22 Grand Slam titles Rafael Nadal by winning the French Open and earning his 23rd major singles title.
Over the course of his lengthy career, Djokovic has shared the stage alongside Nadal and 20-time major champion Roger Federer.
Federer ended his career in major competition last year, and Nadal might follow suit soon.
The U.S. Open this year was afflicted by harsh weather, which will not be present for Sunday’s championship match.
When the first ball is served in Queens, the temperature should be in the high 70s with a genuine feel of the low 80s.
Millions of Spectrum TV users may not be able to see this men’s title match because it will be broadcast by ESPN.
In an ongoing carriage price dispute, ESPN and other Disney brands were removed from Charter Communication’s Spectrum on August 24.
Customers of the country’s second-largest cable provider, which controls a sizeable portion of the New York and Los Angeles markets, have been refused access to ESPN platforms for a variety of sports, including ABC programs.