2015 US Open: Novak Djokovic King of New York for second time in his career
Novak Djokovic reigned supreme in Flushing Meadows. The Serbian tennis ace beat Roger Federer to earn his second US Open title, his 10th grand slam trophy overall, in four sets on Sunday’s final 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4.
Djokovic’s remarkable season continued by winning the US Open title in front of 23,000 crowd in New York City. The World No. 1 beat his rival, Federer, in four sets to become King of New York for the second time in his career. The final is a rematch of the duo’s lone meeting at the US Open final back in 2007, when Federer beat him in straight sets. With his victory, Djokovic has equaled his head-to-head record with the 17-time grand slam Swiss champion 21-21.
The Serb, who is the current World No. 1, endured a hard fall in the third game during the first set that got his hand, elbow, and knee scraped after racing to the middle to return the ball back to the Swiss after slipping down 2-2, 30-0. The blood seeping from his right elbow didn’t stop Djokovic from stepping up his game, eventually clinching the first set. It was the first time that Federer has a dropped a set this fortnight.
In the second set, the Swiss unleashed his SABR (Sneak Attack by Roger), charging on Djokovic’s second serves and returning the ball with his new half volley shots. Federer won the second set 5-7.
In the match that lasted a little over three hours, Djokovic capitalised on his breakpoint opportunities, six for 13 to Federer’s four out of 23. He had 37 unforced errors to Federer’s 54. The Serb won the third and fourth sets to clinch the US Open title. Djokovic has reached all four grand slam finals this season. He is 27-1, with his only loss coming from Stan Wawrinka, who denied him a French Open title in June.
“It’s been an incredible season,” Djokovic told ESPN during the awarding ceremony. “Next to 2011, probably the best of my life, but I’m enjoying this year even more because I’m a husband and a father.”
On his thoughts about Federer, the Serbian tennis star uttered that he has “tremendous respect” for the Swiss, whom he regards as the “best player in history of the game.” Djokovic said that he respects Federer and for what the Swiss is doing for the sporting world of tennis.
Meanwhile, Federer has yet again failed to win another grand slam title since winning the 2012 Wimbledon Championships. During the interview with ESPN after the match, the 34-year-old Swiss said that he still has a lot of passion for tennis and he intends to return to the hard courts in Flushing Meadows next year.
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