Tennis fans will gather together to see if Novak Djokovic can win history and take the calendar year Grand Slam on Sunday. Djokovic faces Daniil Medvedev, the same opponent he defeated in straight sets in the Australian Open final earlier this year. Our panelists predict this highly anticipated US Open final matchup.
Daniil Medvedev vs Novak Djokovic
Jim: Djokovic has looked like a man weighed down by the pressure of trying to create history. But the Serbian has also found a way to dig out six wins, each probably more impressive than the last. Snapping Alexander Zverev’s 16-match winning streak was certainly a difficult task. Beating Medvedev will probably require an even greater effort from Djokovic. But it is his ability to deliver when it matters most that has given him this shot at history and it is hard to see him failing now. Djokovic in 3
Andrew: There were only two players that I gave any chance of derailing Djokovic’s Grand Slam hunt, Zverev and Medvedev. It is fitting for this US Open to require the Serbian to beat both in order to achieve immortality. I think he will achieve it as well. If this was a match that was any occasion other than a Grand Slam final then I may well be tipping Medvedev. The Russian may well be playing better tennis than Djokovic, he is barely losing a set and is the toughest player to hit winners against on a hard court. Combine that with one of the game’s best serves it is tough to find a weaknesses. The difference in the match I anticipate, will be between the ears. Djokovic will simply not allow Medvedev to beat him. The Russian will have to be lights out for three whole sets at least, and I’ve only ever seen Nadal and Wawrinka do that against Djokovic in Grand Slam Finals. Djokovic in 5
Steen: Medvedev trails the h2h 3-5, but getting three past wins against Djokovic puts him ahead of almost everyone else Djokovic has faced. This is Medvedev’s second US Open final and third career Grand Slam final, he also made both hard court slam finals this year (losing to Djokovic in Australia in a match where he played poorly). Medvedev eased past Felix Auger-Aliassime in straights and Botic van de Zandschulp in four sets for his last two matches, Djokovic needed four sets against Matteo Berrettini and five against Alexander Zverev. The Serbian has not had an easy tournament at all and I expect Medvedev to make inroads, Djokovic’s guile and grit has won him the day thus far though and the calendar slam is really not that far out of reach at this point. I expect Djokovic to rise in the clutch. Djokovic in 5
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