NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic smacked a forehand overhead into the open court on match point and when Juan Martin del Potro failed to return it, Djokovic fell on his back on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, his belly heaving up and down and joy spreading across his face. He soon embraced del Potro at the net and then celebrated by throwing his racquet into the crowd.
In the US Open final, No. 6 Djokovic prevailed over No. 3 del Potro, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3, in front of an indoor crowd that included Jerry Seinfeld, Meryl Streep and Christie Brinkley. Because of rain, the roof was closed in Arthur Ashe Stadium, making for cooler and more pleasant conditions than the brutal heat had brought for much of the tournament.
Djokovic overcame a huge pro-del Potro crowd, led by a group of his childhood friends from Tandil, Argentina, known as the “Tandil 12,” who were chanting “Del-po, Del-po, Del-po” for him throughout the match from a private box.
With the victory, Djokovic earned $3.8 million and won his 14th Grand Slam title, tying him for third all-time with Pete Sampras. Roger Federer remains the all-time men’s leader with 20 and Rafael Nadal, who retired with a knee injury against del Potro in the semifinals, is second with 17.
“I was hoping that [Sampras] was going to be here tonight but he’s not so I want to say, ‘Pete, I love you, you’re my idol, I’ll see you soon I hope,'” Djokovic said on court.
Djokovic improved to 3-5 in US Open finals (2011, ’15), and also joined a select group of players to win multiple major titles after the age of 30. He won the Wimbledon title earlier this summer and is now the only man to win multiple Grand Slams in 2018.
Djokovic, who underwent a self-described “minor” procedure on his right elbow in February, is now in position to carry his momentum going into 2019 and challenge Nadal’s position.
He also helped extend the run of domination by the “Big Four.” Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray have now won 50 of the last 55 majors.
“When I had the surgery on my elbow earlier this year, I could truly understand what Juan Martin was going through when he had the wrist surgeries that kept him off the tour for 2-3 years,” Djokovic said.
“I try to take the best out of myself during those moments and thrive on the love and support that I get from loved ones and get myself in this position.”
Djokovic improved to 15-4 against del Potro, and 5-0 in Grand Slam events. The 6-foot-6 Del Potro won his only Grand Slam title in New York in 2009 when he beat Nadal in the semis and Federer in the final.
For many years after that, he was sidelined with wrist problems that required four surgeries on both wrists. This was just the second major final of his career.
“I’m so happy to be playing the final against this magnificent idol,” del Potro said. “He knows that he’s one of my friends on tour and he knows that one player I want to win the title is him. Of course, I’m sad that I lose but I’m happy for Novak, for his team as well, and you deserve to win.”
Alison Hughes became the second female umpire ever in a men’s Grand Slam final, and the match went off without major incident. That occurred one day after a massive upheaval in the women’s final where umpire Carlos Ramos penalized Serena Williams three times during her loss to 20-year-old Naomi Osaka.
Djokovic broke del Potro in the eighth game of the first set when the big man smacked a forehand into the net running wide to his right. Djokovic then closed out the set on his serve.
The Serb then earned an early break in the second set, going up 2-1 when del Potro sailed a forehand long. But when del Potro got the break back to tie it at 3-all in the second set, the crowd roared its approval and del Potro pumped his fist.
“It felt a bit like a football match with the Argentinian fans here and the Serbian fans here,” Djokovic said. “The atmosphere from them was amazing. I think most of all the respect they had for the other player, they never went over the line and that is something that is truly amazing.”
In the second-set tiebreak, Djokovic fought off two early mini-breaks to win it when del Potro hit a forehand into the net. Djokovic scored the key break in the fourth game of the third set when del Potro smacked a backhand into the net.
Djokovic clenched his fist and looked toward his box for encouragement.
Del Potro broke back and tied it at 3-all in the third, but when he hit a backhand wide on break point two games later, Djokovic led 5-3.
Soon it was over, and he was celebrating another historic milestone.
