US OPEN: Novak Djokovic wins 24th Grand Slam Title
QUEENS, NY — The Joker does it again. Novak Djokovic has secured his 24th Grand Slam title, and does it in style paying homage to the late Kobe Bryant with a sentimental t-shirt. The shirt read "Mamba Forever" along with pictures of Bryant and Djokovic. The symbolical #24 made way for a tearful crowd. Bryant was a close friend and Djokovic frequently shared his mental state with him, especially during his injury days.
“Kobe was a close friend, we chatted a lot about the winner’s mentality when I was struggling with injury and trying to make my comeback, work my way back to the top of the game,” said Djokovic. “He was one of the people that I relied on the most.”
The 36-year-old had a nail-biting match against Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev. Joker claimed a 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 victory to match Margaret Court's record tally of 24 Grand Slams. On Monday, the Serbian star clinched his fourth US Open men’s singles title at the Flushing Meadows in New York.
PHOTO CREDIT: US OPEN
Match Re-Cap
At the beginning of the championship, Joker was on fire as he cruised to an easy win in the first set, claiming it 6-3. However, in the next set, Medvedev returned with a vengeance but lost in the tie-breaker as Joker took the set 7-6(5). Then, Djokovic consolidated on the first two sets in the nail-biting third set to ease to a 6-3 win. In the end, Djokovic claimed a 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 victory.
“I don’t know where to start,” Djokovic says. “It obviously means the world to me. I’m kind of repeating myself but I have to say it every time: I’m really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in the sport that has given me and my family so much. Coming from very difficult circumstances and adversities, during the 90s, a couple of wars in our country, and being able to push through. Especially for my parents, giving a lot of sacrifice to support me to play. I love you so much.”
