Novak Djokovic denied historic Grand Slam as Daniil Medvedev wins US Open
An emotional Novak Djokovic has broken down in tears following his straight sets loss to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.
With history on the line, Djokovic was never able to get into the match, with Medvedev winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours.
It's his first Grand Slam title, but it's more significant for what it denied Djokovic.
The Serbian had the chance to join Rod Laver (1969) as the only two men to have won all four majors in the same calendar year in the open era, and it would have been a record 21st Grand Slam title, breaking the tie of 20 Djokovic currently shares with fellow legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
At the final change of ends Djokovic covered his face with a towel and wept openly, perhaps as the realisation dawned that the Grand Slam had slipped through his fingers.
"Champions sense that [tension], Medevedev sensed that," John McEnroe said on ESPN.
"We saw Novak crying at the end of the match - he believed and I believed that he could win the Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic tears up following his US Open loss to Daniil Medvedev. Getty
"You could see the human side of him and how difficult it is - it caught up to him.
"The fact he lost sets to guys we thought he wouldn't lose to and the guy he played [Medvedev], he just didn't have the legs and the nerves in the match and that combination is lethal."
The final was the fifth straight match where Djokovic dropped the first set, having done likewise against Kei Nishikori, Jenson Brooksby, Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev.
He was on the back foot immediately, dropping serve in the opening game of the match, when he sent a relatively straightforward forehand wide. It was the only break of the first set, indeed, Medvedev didn't face a single break point as he took the set 6-4.
Novak Djokovic cries during the final change of ends in his US Open final loss to Daniil Medvedev. ESPN
The previous four times Djokovic had conceded the first set he was able to bounce back straight away, but this was different, with the fourth game of the second set proving crucial.
Djokovic had a look at a second serve on break point, only for a let to be called as music began playing from the loudspeaker in the middle of the point. On the replay Medvedev played a delightful volley from a tough position low down to save break point, and he was able to serve out the game, much to the frustration of Djokovic who smashed his racquet.
Djokovic loses his cool during the second set Getty
Djokovic dropped serve in the next game when he sent a low volley long, and that was all the Russian needed as he served out the second set 6-4.
When Medvedev broke in both the first and third games of the third set Djokovic knew his run at Grand Slam glory was done, walking to his chair with his head down, none of the usual energy you might see.
Medvedev's first attempt to serve out the match at 5-2 was a nervy affair, with consecutive double faults, the first on championship point, gifting Djokovic a break of serve, but he wasn't to be denied a second time.
Djokovic was only able to win a paltry 13 per cent of points on Medvedev's serve in the first set, and 29 per cent in the second.
"I've never seen Djokovic look so out of sorts on the return," said ESPN's Patrick McEnroe.
"He just has no idea where it's going."
