It was one of the most bizarre title celebrations of all time and, Medvedev explained, it was one “only legends will understand”.
You see, this wasn’t your typical fall-to-your-knees match point theatrics. He flopped to the court, lay on his side and gave a disturbing blank stare to the camera.
In fact, it was an L2 + Left celebration, Medvedev explained. Come again?
Well, that’s the combination which triggers the ‘flop’ celebration from the computer game, FIFA, of which the 25-year-old is an avid player.
"Only legends will understand," Medvedev explained.
"What I did after the match is an L2 + Left. Thank you guys."
WHY WAS DJOKOVIC IN TEARS MID-MATCH?
It all fell apart so rapidly. Jaws were on the floor from the offset as history slipped away from Novak Djokovic in the US Open men's final.
Broken in his first service game, the world No 1 - who was on track to complete a calendar grand slam and go one ahead of Roger Federer and rafa Nadal in the list of slam titles won - was out of sorts.
His opponent was quite the opposite. Daniil Medvedev in his third slam final had made no secret of how much he needed this to be third time lucky.
No one could have predicted what would come next. An absolute demolition of a man regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
The Russian took the opening two sets with little fuss and the man on the other side could muster no response besides a racquet smash or two and a momentary meltdown as the frustration became too much.
And in what seemed like the blink of an eye, Medvedev became a grand slam champion in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
"I am so nervous to say my speech," Medvedev said in the presentation. "First of all, I want to say sorry, to you fans and Novak because we all know what he was going for today and I just want to say, what you have accomplished this year and throughout your career, I have never said this to anybody but I will say to you, for me, you are the greatest tennis player in history.
"I want to thank my ... team. Gilles Cervara, Francisca, those watching, my family, my sister, some of them are here, some of them are watching. Thank you guys because it is not easy to win a slam but I am thank you to you for helping me throughout this journey.
"Then, I want to thank you guys. I mean, today it was a little bit more for Novak but it is completely understandable. Throughout the week, you gave me a lot of energy. Starting from 2019, and held me to today. It was not easy but thank you so much, guys."
After being presented with his winners cheque ($US2.5m), Medvedev said: " Shall I open it?"
"It is in there, trust us," organisers reassured him.
After being presented with his winners cheque ($US2.5m), Medvedev said: " Shall I open it?"
"It is in there, trust us," organisers reassured him.
NOVAK'S TEARS
Towards the end of the match there were embarrassing scenes as the crowd booed Medvedev as he served for the title.
Their lack of support for the Russian was countered by the tears from Djokovic in the final changeover as the cheering became too much. It's uncharted waters for the Serbian who, so often, is the underdog when it comes to crowd support.
Djokovic was denied the first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1969 and the result keeps him level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal atop the career Slam title list.
“Relief. I was glad it was over,” Djokovic said about his feelings in the moments after the defeat.
“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.
“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 created for me on the court.”
Djokovic also missed out on a fourth US Open title and 21st career Grand Slam, leaving him deadlocked on the men’s record 20 Slam trophies with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
“So many different emotions,” he said. “Part of me is very sad. It’s a tough one to swallow, this loss, considering everything that was on the line.
“But on the other hand I felt something I never felt in my life here in New York. The crowd made me very special. They pleasantly surprised me.” Down two sets and two breaks, US Open fans cheered for a Djokovic fightback with a spirit he said will stay with him as long as a Grand Slam might have.
“The amount of support and energy and love I got from the crowd was something I’ll remember forever,” Djokovic said. “That’s the reason on the changeover I just teared up. The emotion, the energy was so strong.
“It’s as strong as winning 21 Grand Slams. That’s how I felt, very special. They touched my heart. These are the kind of moments that you cherish. It was just wonderful.” Djokovic admitted he didn’t have the game to stay with a determined Medvedev from the start.
“I was just below par with my game,” Djokovic said. “My legs were not there. I was trying. I did my best. I made a lot of unforced errors. I didn’t have no serve really.
“Just one of these days where unfortunately wasn’t meant to be. “I know I could have and should have done better. It’s a very tough loss.”
He showed enormous grace in defeat, congratulating his peer for his achievement.
"Thank you, so much, guys. I would like to start off by saying congratulations to Daniil, amazing, amazing match. Amazing tournament," Djokovic said. "If there is anyone who deserves the Grand Slam title right now it is you, so well done, absolutely.
"We get along very well. I wish you many more Grand Slams and majors to follow and I'm sure that you will be on the stage in the future again.
"I was thinking in both scenarios, visualising myself standing here and what would I say? I would like to say that tonight, even though I have not won the match, my heart is filled with joy and I am the happiest man alive because you guys made me feel very special.
"You ... guys touched my soul. I have never felt like this in New York. I have never felt like this. I love you guys, thank you so much for your support."
Djokovic saw his 27-match Slam win streak halted three shy of the record he set in 2015 and 2016 when he won four consecutive Slams, ending with the 2016 French Open.
Medvedev, 25, became the third Russian man to win a Grand Slam title after Yevgeny Kafelnikov at the 1996 French Open and 1999 Australian Open and Marat Safin at the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open.
STRUGGLE FROM THE START
In the biggest of Djokovic’s 1,176 career matches, he made two unforced forehand errors to surrender a break in the first game to Medvedev, who held through to take the first set in 36 minutes, never facing a break point.
It was the fifth consecutive match in which Djokovic dropped the first set. Medvedev dropped only three points on his serve in the first set but lost that many to open his first service game in the second.
Djokovic, however, squandered his break chances and Medvedev held to 1-1. Medvedev hit a backhand wide to give Djokovic a break chance in the fourth game but he netted a forehand volley.
After botching a forehand on the folloiwng point, Djokovic shattered his racquet and on the next sent a backhand long as Medvedev held to 2-2.
In the fifth game, Djokovic mis-hit a backhand volley to hand Medvedev a break and a 3-2 lead and the Russian held three times to claim the set.
Medvedev broke to begin the third set and again in the third game when a botched volley seemed to signal the end of the Slam chase.
Djokovic held at love in the fifth game but Medvedev held again to 5-1 and served for the match in the eighth game.
Medvedev double faulted on championship point and again, then netted a forehand to surrender a break that kept Djokovic in the match.
“It was not easy,” Medvedev said.
Serving again for the match at 5-4, Medvedev double-faulted on his second match point but finally got over the line on his third chance with a service winner after two hours and 16 minutes.
Updates
Daniil Medvedev has just revealed it is his wedding anniversary with wife Daria today – and admitted that provided a bit of unusual motivation as he produced the greatest moment of his career.
"During the tournament, I could not think of a present so when I went in at the final, after the semi, if I lose a need to find a present fast and when I won, the only thing I thought, if I lose I have no time to get a present so I have to win this match," Medvedev said.
And he's going to have to buy a hell of a present. He's just banked $US2.5 million for winning his first grand slam title.
As he's handed the winner's cheque, Medvedev possibly had the spending spree already on his mind leading to this wonderful exchange.
"Shall I open it?" he asks.
"It is in there, trust us," is the reply.
"I believe you."
And with that, we'll close our live coverage of this morning's US Open final. Thanks for joining us!
We all know what Novak Djokovic was going for in New York – a calendar grand slam, and something his greatest rivals had not achieved.
He fell short, but according to US Open champion Daniil Medvedev the debate is over: he is the greatest.
"I want to say sorry, to you fans and Novak because we all know what he was going for today," Medvedev said.
"And I just want to say, what you have accomplished this year and throughout your career, I have never said this to anybody but I will say to you, for me, you are the greatest tennis player in history."
Novak Djokovic has delivered one of the classier speeches you'll ever hear from a defeat grand slam finalist.
With tears in his eyes, Djokovic thanked the New York crowd – saying he's "the happiest man alive".
"I would like to say that tonight, even though I have not one the match, my heart is filled with joy and I am the happiest man alive because you guys made me feel very special," he said.
"You guys touched my soul. I have never felt like this in New York. I have never felt like this. I love you guys, thank you so much for your support. I love you and I will see you soon. Thank you."
It was meant to be about Novak – his quest to end a 52-year wait for another calendar grand slam winner – and the moment he pulled clear of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Instead all three will finish the season on 20 grand slam titles.
Djokovic surely has more to come, and perhaps there's something special left in the lockers of Federer and Nadal.
But now there's Medvedev – and Alexander Zverev, too – who have proven they can match it with the three greats on the biggest stage.
Is a new era of men's tennis incoming? We've been waiting.
Novak Djokovic is in tears during the trophy presentation as he's lauded as 'one of the greatest of all time' following a brilliant grand slam season.
He has the love from the crowd – the adulation he's always craved, and rarely has he received it unconditionally – and the emotions are bubbling over.
He's done it!
Daniil Medvedev is the 2021 US Open champion, sealing an incredible 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory to stun world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
He ices it with an unreturnable serve, before collapsing to the ground and then picking himself up for a classy hug with Djokovic at the net.
There were ugly scenes late in the match as the New York crowd booed and shouted during Medvedev's final service games – he twiced double faulted on championship point as officials failed to keep the rowdy crowd in check.
But it didn't matter – he becomes the third Russian man to win a major singles title, and the first since Marat Safin in 2000 to do so.
And Djokovic, with his bid for the first men's calendar grand slam since Australian Rod Laver in 1969, is denied. He was in tears towards the end of the match as the enormity of his achievements, and how close he was to a special tier of greatness, became apparent.
An incredible final. And an incredible upset.
Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 4-5 Medvedev*
Medvedev broken!
He had championship point…. and followed it up with back-to-back double faults – with the crowd roaring both times – and then an unforced error.
The crowd is well and truly back into this contest, willing the world No.1 to fight back.
Is that enough to wake Djokovic?
He produces a quick hold and quietly fist-pumps to the crowd during the change of ends.
Actually, he's in tears as Medvedev prepares to serve for the championship.
The crowd chants of "Nole, Nole, Nole" ringing around Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 2-5 Medvedev*
A quick hold for Djokovic puts the game back on Medvedev's serve.
The New York crowd is trying to will him to do something special, but Djokovic doesn't look like there's anything left in the tank.
When was the last time he lost in straight sets at a grand slam?
It might be 2017, when he lost to Dominic Thiem at the French Open. This is an astonishing result.
Medvedev to serve for the championship.
Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 1-5 Medvedev*
Nothing is going right for Djokovic – even the netcord is against him right now.
With a look at 15-30, just a sniff, luck evades him as a Medvedev backhand drilled into the tape pops up and lands for a winner.
He apologises, but it's been that sort of day for Djokovic.
In the end, a comfortable hold and Medvedev is one game away…. and Novak is serving to keep his calendar slam dream alive.
Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 1-4 Medvedev*
It's unusual to see Novak look so dispirited. Not that he's quitting on points but, he's been so thoroughly trounced here and he has no answers.
The greatest defensive player of all time is struggling to court the court as Medvedev races through this third set.
Djokovic holds on for a service game, putting him on the board in the third set, but the crowd is flat and he's on the verge of defeat.
Two games to go for Medvedev to seal his first grand slam title.
Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 0-3 Medvedev*
Medvedev with another break – and he's now three sets away from a first grand slam title. Incredible.
And Novak Djokovic – who is so close a piece of history – seems to have so little in the tank that you can't imagine how he can turn this around. Even for Novak.
Last week Andy Roddick tweeted that first Novak takes your legs, then he takes your soul.
He's a ruthless competitor who breaks opponents down physically before beating them on the scoreboard.
But it looks like that physicality has taken its toll. Medvedev played close to 12 hours en route to the final, while Djokovic's time on court has totalled roughly 17.5 hours.
Djokovic endured a gruelling five-set semi-final win over Alexander Zverev two days ago… have his legs been taken?
