Santoro: Everyone expect Daniil Medvedev's family should root for Novak Djokovic

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

Former world No. 17 Fabrice Santoro has urged tennis fans around the world to stand behind Novak Djokovic in the US Open final. Djokovic, ranked at No. 1 in the world, is on the verge of claiming a record 21st Grand Slam title and becoming the first player since 1969 to win all four Grand Slams in the same year.

Djokovic wants to make tennis history but No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev has other plans. "Apart from Medvedev's family, everyone should be behind Djokovic to experience this moment, whether you are a fan of him or not. There are no longer any favorite players or fans of X or Y.

C is simply: Let's live this historic moment," Santoro told L'Equipe. Djokovic admitted that the US Open final might be the most important match of his career. "I said it on the court. I'm going to treat this match as it's my last one because it's arguably the most important one of my career maybe.

Maybe not, I don't know. But of this year, for sure," Djokovic noted.

Djokovic wary of the Medvedev threat

"It's going to be a battle against another guy who has been in tremendous form, Medvedev. He's won a lot of matches on hard court so far.

We played earlier this year in Australian Open finals. I know what's expecting me," Djokovic said. "He's already had couple of Grand Slam finals behind him. I think experience-wise it's different for him know. I'm sure he's going to give it all to win it, to win his first slam.

"On the other side, I'll be giving it all I possibly got in the tank to win this match. I'm focusing on recovery, recalibrating all the systems basically for Sunday. I'm not going to waste time or energy on anything that can just be a distraction and deplete me from the vital energy that I need for Sunday."