Novak Djokovic is the best: 36 Grand Slam finals, 10 on the US Open

Time doesn’t cross for Novak Djokovic, a 36-year-old tennis participant who solely lives off profitable. In any other case, it is unattainable to know that this season he has been current within the finals of the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open. On his return to New York, two years after shedding the 2021 remaining to Daniil Medvedev, the Serbian as soon as once more knocks on the door of the title. His newest sufferer this Friday was Ben Shelton, with a rating of 6-3, 6-2 and 7-6 (4), in 2 hours and 41 minutes.

It is now 10 finals within the final Grand Slam, tying Invoice Tilden’s all-time document, with three titles within the 2011, 2015 and 2018 editions. Within the debate about who’s one of the best in historical past, “Nole” wins by a landslide. As much as 36 Grand Slam finals shine in his repertoire, one other document that can be nearly unattainable to beat.

Djokovic is a virtually good machine. Of his final 23 semifinals within the 4 huge levels of the game, he has received 22 of them. The general document is 36-11. His solely blip in that sequence got here towards Dominic Thiem, at Roland Garros in 2019. A match marked by the wind that affected each the sport and the outcome.

Shelton is excellent and can be good for some time, however he paid dearly as a novice towards a superior being. You do not beat a legend with brute pressure. On an Arthur Ashe court docket closed as a result of risk of rain, one thing that the gamers had been grateful for to keep away from the warmth, Djokovic dominated to his coronary heart’s content material from begin to end.

His rival ‘broke’ himself within the seventh sport with a sequence of unforced errors. For those who present the 23-time grand champion, the possibilities of beating him are decreased to zero.

If Djokovic was given the selection of nationality for an opponent, he would all the time say an American. He has crushed American opponents in every of his final 31 matches.

Novak had a second of pressure within the ninth sport of the opening set. After losing 4 set factors, he saved a break alternative from younger Ben. His naive method to the volley ended with a shot into the web.

Shelton wanted serves at 230 kilometers per hour to get out in entrance of video games. The American surrended sonner than individuals would have preferred. A double fault gave Djokovic tje second break within the fifth spherical of the continuation. Djokovic needed to complete rapidly and went for an additional break.

Very removed from Alcaraz

At this second in time, the one similarity between Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz is their age and utilizing a sleeveless shirt on the court docket. Shelton solely affords potential and arm energy.

Within the noisiest stadium on this planet of tennis, there was a silence when Djokovic added one other break at the start of the third set. He noticed every little thing so within the bag that he relaxed a bit an excessive amount of. That induced him to go from 4-2 to 4-5, with a set level for Shelton.

The Serbian didn’t shut the match wth the serve at 6-5, and the result went to a tiebreak. The dream of a remaining with an American consultant was over. The group’s dream of getting a duel within the solar between Djokovic and Alcaraz on Sunday stays intact.