Google News Novak Djokovic joins Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on exclusive Major achievement
by JOVICA ILIC | VIEW 6523
Competing at the Us Open 16 times, Novak Djokovic scored 81 victories and claimed three titles from nine finals. Knowing his records and achievements on the hard court, Novak could have achieved more at the season's last Major, losing too many matches in the semis and finals and missing the opportunity to improve his already impressive tally at Majors.
A few weeks ago, Novak suffered the sixth US Open final loss to Daniil Medvedev, standing on the verge of tennis glory and a calendar Grand Slam but falling on the last step following a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to the Russian.
By reaching the final four, Djokovic became the fourth player in the Open era with at least 12 semi-finals at a single Major, joining Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who achieved that before him. After two early exits in 2005 and 2006, Novak became one of the players to beat in New York in 2007 and has stayed in that position ever since!
After a great fight, Djokovic lost 2007 final to Roger Federer and was the semi-finalist in the following two seasons. Between 2010-2013, Novak was the finalist in New York in every season, dropping three finals to Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray and beating the Spaniard in 2011 for his first US Open crown.
Between 2014-2016, Novak stayed among the US Open favorites, with one semi-final, final and title on his tally. The Serb was the US Open semi-finalist for ten consecutive seasons, with his streak coming to its end in 2017 when he had to skip the season's last Major due to an elbow injury.
Novak returned in glory in 2018, securing his third and so far the last US Open crown before two early exits in 2019 and 2020 following that unfortunate default a year ago. This September, Djokovic was the top favorite in New York, claiming the opening three Majors of the season and hoping to achieve something that has stayed out of everyone's reach since Rod Laver in 1969.
Novak Djokovic is the fourth player with 12 semi-finals at a single Major.
The Serb suffered a massive blow at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July, and he did not play on his usual level at the US Open. Still, Novak did enough to reach the 12th semi-final and join Connors, Federer and Nadal on the achievement that will take some beating in the future.
Djokovic came from a set down four straight times and reached the ninth final following a five-setter victory over Alexander Zverev. Still, Novak had nothing in the tank in his quest for tennis glory, losing in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev to stay on three US Open crowns and 20 Major titles. 