Real reason Djokovic was emotional wreck in US Open final

Novak Djokovic openly wept in the middle of his dramatic US Open final nightmare in a breakdown the tennis world hasn’t seen before.

Runner up Novak Djokovic was overcome. Photo Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP.

Novak Djokovic’s raw, red, puffy eyes said it all.

The world No. 1’s day of history turned into a nightmare at the US Open with Daniil Medvedev causing a massive boilover to win his first grand slam.

The tennis world was stunned at Djokovic’s meltdown as he let the chance to become the first male player since 1969 to complete a calendar grand slam get ripped from his grasp.

The most surprising this is that he barely fought back.

Medvedev’s 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory makes him Russia’s first grand slam champion since Maria Sharapova and the first Russian man to win a slam since Marat Safin in 2005.

As much as Medvedev won it, Djokovic lost it.

After just two hours and 15 minutes, Djokovic’s unravelling was complete as the weight of history bore down on his shoulders and ultimately broke him.

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He was overcome with emotion towards the end of the match, breaking down in tears before the final service game and again when he stepped up to the microphone during the trophy presentations.

It was Djokovic as the world has never seen him. He said he had “never felt like this” as he wiped away tears before a thundering round of applause from a New York crowd that had been booing him just one hour previously.

The photos of his emotions spilling out were gripping.

Novak Djokovic sobbed into his towel. Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP.

Novak Djokovic was still wiping away tears on the next point. Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP)

Medvedev collapsed to the court and rolled around with his tongue sticking out in a bizarre celebration after the final point – but there was more emotion in the minutes before the match ended with Djokovic spotted sobbing into his towel during the change of ends at 5-4 in the third set.

The crowd lifted to a crescendo of noise during the change of ends when the big screen showed Djokovic sitting down. The warm reception was all too much for him and the tears started to fall.

Djokovic buried his head and went on to play the first point of the next service game still wiping tears from his eyes.

The tears came again during the trophy presentation with both Djokovic and Medvedev offering classy praise for each other.

Djokovic said the real reason for his tears were not his defeat, but the love he was feeling from the crowd.

“You guys touched my soul,” he said to the New York crowd.

“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.

“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.”

Novak Djokovic was overcome. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP.

It was all too much for Novak Djokovic. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

He said in his post match press conference: “Part of me is very sad... but on the other hand I felt something I never felt in my life here in New York. The crowd made me feel very special.

“The amount of support and energy and love I got from the crowd was something I’ll remember forever. 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.”

Medvedev was also full of admiration in his on-court interview.

“I have never said this to anybody, but I will say to you, for me, you are the greatest tennis player in history,” he said looking at Djokovic.

It came after some late drama with Medvedev facing some nervous moments trying to close out the match.

In the end it was just a bump in the road on his way to victory.

Djokovic had been attempting to win the first calendar-year men’s singles Grand Slam since Aussie Rod Laver 52 years ago and was also looking to make his case to be considered the greatest player in tennis history with a chance to go ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with a 21st career grand slam.

Laver gave some consoling words for Djokovic in a tweet posted after the match.

Simply stunning Daniil Medvedev, you stopped one of the greatest tonight. To win your first Grand Slam title is always special, to do it against a champion like Novak Djokovic is something else. Take heart Novak, the quest continues. Best wishes, 🚀

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 12, 2021

Tennis commentators were earlier stunned by Djokovic’s lack of mobility and some speculated the fatigue of playing more than 17 hours on court this tournament had finally caught up with him.

It certainly looked that way in the third set when he made a bizarre tactical shift to come to the net as often as possible in a clear sign he was looking to end points earlier than he normally would.

Daniil Medvedev celebrates with the championship trophy. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic embrace at the net. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.

His body had finally failed him and it was the only opportunity Medvedev needed to win his first slam after two previous grand slam finals defeats.

The Serbian was running on empty after a second set meltdown where he smashed a racquet and was booed by the crowd.

Djokovic has routinely found a way to recover and re-set his mentality in similar situations of duress on the court — but he had nothing left in his bag of tricks on Monday morning.

More tears flowed from his eyes during the trophy presentations and they told the whole story.

Here is how the drama unfolded.

Third set: Big twist after Djokovic on the brink

Djokovic appeared to be waving a white flag and throwing in the towel in the third set after meekly giving up two breaks of serve without showing any emotion.

But there was more drama to come as Medvedev squandered a championship point while serving at 5-2. Djokovic had the crowd on its feet minutes later when he forced Medvedev to serve the match out at 5-4.

Djokovic had looked beaten as he went down 3-0 and stumbled to his chair with his head bowed.

He is the greatest mover and defensive player in the history of the sport, but Medvedev inexplicably left him out on his feet, leaving tennis commentators stunned at Djokovic’s lack of fight.

“I’m not used to seeing this at all from Novak Djokovic. He looks dispirited,” a commentator said on ESPN’s broadcast.

“Usually he turns his anger into an asset but it doesn’t even look like he’s angry. He is not even going after that.”

Second set: Furious Djokovic melting down, booed by crowd

Djokovic was ready to explode after letting five break point opportunities slip through his grasp early in the second set and it triggered an angry outburst from the world No. 1 where he destroyed his racquet with three slams into the ground.

Djokovic’s meltdown was with the scores at 2-2. It got even worse from there with Medvedev breaking in the next game to lead 4-2.

The Serbian’s most painful moment was in Medvedev’s first service game of the second set where he let three break points go.

From 0-40, Medvedev won five consecutive points to level at 1-1. Medvedev’s streak included two unforced errors from the world No. 1 and some amazing serving.

Mood. Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP.

Djokovic was losing his temper after failing to convert and was seen whacking his legs at the end of the game.

The official Twitter profile of the Tennis Podcast wrote a “befuddled” Djokovic had “pummelled” his quads.

Djokovic clearly frustrated with his level. #USOpenpic.twitter.com/lR1Ykc6BCu

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 12, 2021

Djokovic was seen at the change of ends sitting still with a towel draped over his head.

His frustrations finally got the better of him after Medvedev’s next service game when he annihilated his racquet.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia smashes his racquet. Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP.

The vocal crowd turned on Djokovic at that point and boos echoed around the stadium.

“They’re booing him,” an ESPN commentator said from court side.

He was ready to explode.

Djokovic took out his frustration later in the game in a much safer way. #USOpenpic.twitter.com/DHqYHgiEAv

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 12, 2021

The crowd had been cheering for Djokovic since he went behind in the first set, which Medvedev won 6-4.