US Open 2021 men's final: Daniil Medvedev beats Novak Djokovic in jaw-dropping fashion

It's surely the most unusual grand slam celebration of all-time - and US Open champion Daniil Medvedev has explained the story behind his bizarre centre court flop.

Daniil Medvedev celebrates winning championship point to defeat Novak Djokovic. Picture: Getty

Daniil Medvedev sealed his maiden grand slam triumph, toppling perhaps the greatest player of all time, and then promptly flopped to the court.

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."

Daniil Medvedev celebrates winning championship point to defeat Novak Djokovic. Picture: Getty

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.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev celebrates with the trophy

"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.

Djokovic congratulates Medvedev at the net

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.

Djokovic struggled throughout the match

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.

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Originally published as US Open 2021 men's final: Daniil Medvedev beats Novak Djokovic in jaw-dropping fashion

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