• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sport

‘I’ll be giving it all’, says Djokovic on brink of tennis history

11 September 2021, 4:15 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Sep 10, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany (not pictured) on day twelve of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 10, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany (not pictured) on day twelve of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Image: Reuters

Sep 10, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany (not pictured) on day twelve of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

World number one Novak Djokovic is a match away from one of the highest achievements across sports, with a calendar Grand Slam on the line after he overcame German Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2 in the U.S. Open semi-final in New York on Friday (September 10).

Djokovic moved within one win of reaching a men’s record 21 Grand Slam titles and avenged his loss to Zverev at the Tokyo Olympics in front of a roaring crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Rod Laver sitting in the front row, 52 years after he achieved the feat, the last man to do so.

He will face Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s (September 12) final, after the world number two sent off 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in his semi-final.

Djokovic handed the German his first break of the night with a double fault in the first set but otherwise showed no mercy, firing off 41 winners and a dozen aces across the entire match.

The third set was a matter of survival of the fittest. Djokovic had a 40-0 head start in the tenth game only to see Zverev fend off two break points through marathon rallies, including a 53-shot exchange, before he broke the German’s serve for the set point.

Tied at two sets apiece, Djokovic won a 30-shot rally for the early break, but after fending off four break points saw Zverev convert in the seventh game. He broke Zverev’s serve in the next game before hoisting his arms aloft to wild cheers from the crowd.

“Yeah, I mean it’s a great win,” said Djokovic in his news conference. “I’m proud of the fight that I delivered. Yeah, I probably could have played better in some moments but again, I have to be satisfied with delivering the best tennis I possibly could in the most important set, which was the fifth set.”

Zverev was tipped to be the toughest test at the U.S. Open for the Serbian. Not only had he ended Djokovic’s bid for a Golden Slam – the four majors and the Olympic gold in the same year – six weeks back, the German was also on a career-best 16-match winning streak before Friday’s contest.

“One thing that was very good from him is how he served on breakpoints,” Zverev added. “Most of the time I didn’t have a chance. That was the big difference tonight.

“I feel like every time it was an important moment, he came out with massive serves.”

Currently in a three-way tie for most men’s tennis major titles at 20 a piece with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, with whom he makes up tennis’ “Big Three,” Djokovic could also exceed his rivals in the sheer number of Grand Slam trophies if he wins on Sunday.

Both Federer and Nadal missed the year’s final major due to injury.

“I know we want to talk about history. I know it’s on the line. I’m aware of it. Of course, I’m aware of it.

“But I’m just trying to lock into what I know works for me. So I have my routines, I have my people. I isolate myself. I gather all the necessary energy for the next battle, only the next match, the next match.

“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.

“I’ll be giving it all I’ve possibly got in the tank to win this match.”

While tennis fans the world over enjoy endless debate over who of tennis’ “Big Three” can truly lay claim to the title “Greatest of All Time,” for Zverev, the matter was already settled.

“If you look at the stats, if you look at the pure game of tennis, he’s the greatest of all time,” said Zverev. “Nobody is there with him, because most weeks world No. 1, most Masters 1000s titles, most likely going to be the most Grand Slams at the end of the day.

“And he has the chance of winning all four in the same year. How do you compete with that?”

Share article
Tags: Novak DjokovicGrand SlamAlexander ZverevU.S. Open
Previous Post

Cause of fire at Christiana Provincial Hospital not yet determined: Health MEC

Next Post

Mixed reactions over children taking part in Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine trial

Related Posts

[File Image] : Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring

Bayern’s Gnabry on the bench against Frankfurt after turbulent week

27 January 2023, 6:44 PM
[File Image] : Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the match

Disciplined defence key to beating Brighton: Jurgen Klopp

27 January 2023, 3:05 PM
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during his semi final match against Tommy Paul of the U.S.

Djokovic pounds Paul to reach 10th Australian Open final

27 January 2023, 2:21 PM
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico - October 29, 2022 Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas during practice.

Motor racing-Alfa Romeo F1 team announces co-title partnership with Stake

27 January 2023, 11:51 AM
[File Image] : Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his match against Austria's Dennis Novak.

Djokovic’s father won’t attend Australian Open semi-final

27 January 2023, 10:30 AM
Boxing gloves

Six fighters to contest for SA boxing title in March

26 January 2023, 7:10 PM
Next Post
A health worker administers a vaccine during the launch of the South African leg of a global Phase III trial of Sinovac's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in children and adolescents, in Pretoria, South Africa, September 10, 2021.

Mixed reactions over children taking part in Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine trial

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Remedial programme reinstated to fight Hyacinth plants at Hartbeespoort Dam
  • Northern Cape’s Kakamas to be exempted from blackouts
  • Zuma joins AmaZulu King in commemorating the Battle of Isandlwana
  • Scorcher predicted in Northern Cape for two weeks
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Babes Wodumo breaks her silence at Mampintsha’s funeral
  • Diepsloot residents block N14 highway
  • LIVE: City of Joburg Council elects new mayor
  • Al Jamah’s Thapelo Amad touted to be Joburg’s new mayor
  • UPDATE: Thapelo Amad elected as new Mayor of Joburg
  • Public Protector’s office finalising preliminary Phala Phala report

LATEST

Gauteng ANC chair Panyaza Lesufi
  • Politics

Removal of Phalatse will yield similar results in other municipalities: Lesufi


Mandela who advocated for reconciliation, died on this day at his home in Johannesburg at the age of 95.
  • South Africa

67 Blankets for Madiba campaign goes all out to celebrate 9th anniversary


FILE PHOTO: Institute of Political Studies (IEP) or "Sciences Po" main entrance at the Institute in Paris, France, May 28, 2013. Picture taken May 28, 2013. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
  • Lifestyle

Top French university bans use of ChatGPT to prevent plagiarism


Five former Memphis police officers were charged on Thursday (January 26) with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died three days after a traffic stop, prosecutors said.
  • World

United States awaits release of Tyre Nichols’ video


Electricity pylons are seen along the cooling tower of the defunct Orlando Power Station in Soweto.
  • Business

More South Africans join calls for national state of disaster to address electricity crisis


A gavel is shown with a book in the background.
  • South Africa

Soweto “fridge-killer” planned murder of cousin-lover: NPA


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Cause of fire at Christiana Provincial Hospital not yet determined: Health MEC
Next Mixed reactions over children taking part in Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine trial