Novak Djokovic’s summer journey from existential drifter to double Grand Slam champion was completed on Sunday night on another febrile evening inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 31 year-old Serb, who back in April was still suffering from a lack of motivation, followed up his Wimbledon title by fending off the rangy power of Juan Martin Del Potro to win the US Open final 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in three hours and 16 minutes.
We are back at peak Djokovic, who will rise to world number four now, and possibly back to world number one by the end of the year.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the US Open men's singles final against Juan Martin del Potro in New York
The agony and pain as Del Potro reacts during Sunday evening's US Open men's singles final at Flushing Meadows
After the fracas involving Serena Williams on Saturday night, British umpire Alison Hughes sometimes had her work cut out to control the New York crowd, who wanted to see the Argentinian capture his first Major title in nine injury-ravaged years. At least she was not quietly ushered off the court afterwards, as had happened to Carlos Ramos the night before.
For Djokovic this was number fourteen, and who knows how many he can win, especially with the ageing process biting at his closest rivals.
It seems all to be back: the searing returns, the movement, the backhand down the line, the cussed determination. He can play like a human brick wall.
With cold and showers ending this historically hot US Open on an inappropriately wintry note the roof was again closed, as it had been for the controversial women’s final the night before.
Del Potro was in the mood to play a few trick shots despite facing a difficult battle against the world No 6
Del Potro reached the final on Sunday after Rafael Nadal withdrew during the pair's semi-final match on Friday night
Djokovic was put under pressure in the second set as Del Potro started to find his way back into the US Open final
Del Potro has been struggling with a minor injury just next to his right shoulder for most of the men's singles tournament
The 29-year-old from Argentina pumps his fist after breaking Djokovic in the second set of the US Open final on Sunday
Del Potro was going to need to hit plenty of winners through this sluggishly-paced court that has been very much to Djokovic’s liking. It is one of the things that has played into his hands during this summer comeback, another being when the roof was closed for his whole match against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.
The Argentinian was always going to be ahead in the popularity stakes on this one but it was Djokovic who struck first, going ahead for 5-3 when Del Potro’s huge wingspan fired a forehand into the net.
When he went a break behind in the second we were at peak Djokovic, but somehow the Argentinian chiselled out a break back and the crowd surged behind him, testing the Serb’s temperament as he remonstrated over the distraction.
A giant tug of war ensued in the eighth game, which was to last just over twenty minutes and included three break points for the Argentinian and about six minutes of Djokovic bouncing the ball before serve. On they went to a tiebreak which turned on a couple of errors on the forehand side, the one which Djokovic spent most of the match trying to avoid.
When he went two sets up he did so nurturing a 204-1 winning record in best of five set matches.
A wearying Del Potro always fights and, as in the second set, he recovered an early break, before losing out in too many long rallies saw him broken decisively for 5-3.
Djokovic showed his frustration as the second set started to get away from him against his Argentine opponent
Sunday's final was played underneath the roof as the rain poured down at Flushing Meadows and in the surrounding area
Djokovic's wife, Jelena, watches from the stands as her husband begins to find a way of regaining control of the match
Djokovic pumps his fist again as he clinches the second set after Del Potro had taken him all the way to a tie-break
Djokovic was reduced to a smirk in the third set as Del Potro once again came back and started to threaten his game
Del Potro managed to gain a strong position in the third set but ultimately fell away when it mattered the most
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/10/novak-djokovic-beats-juan-martin-del-potro-to-win-his-third-us-open-mens-singles-title/
Main photo article Novak Djokovic’s summer journey from existential drifter to double Grand Slam champion was completed on Sunday night on another febrile evening inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 31 year-old Serb, who back in April was still suffering from a lack of motivation, followed up his Wimbledon title by f...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/10/00/4FF4F37F00000578-6149189-image-m-33_1536536143842.jpg
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