Novak Djokovic overcame a spirited performance from Jenson Brooksby to reach the quarterfinal where it will be a rematch of Wimbledon 2021 final against Matteo Berrettini.
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For the first half an hour of the match, Jenson Brooksby was creating a fever-pitch atmosphere at Arthur Ashe stadium. He had never been to the stadium. The American went there two hours prior to the match to practice. But, when he won the first set 6-1 against Novak Djokovic, there was tremendous anticipation in the air. Perhaps, Brooksby was the individual destined to end Novak Djokovic’s quest for a calendar Grand Slam. But, alas it was not meant to be.
Brooksby’s injury troubles, combined with Djokovic upping his game in the crunch situations, proved to be his undoing. Djokovic recovered in grand style to win the fourth round match 1-6, 6-3,6-2,6-2. This meant that for the first time in 141 years of the US Open, there was no local representation in the last eight stage of the competition. Djokovic, on the other hand, will encounter a tough match against Matteo Berrettini.
In the Wimbledon 2021 final, Djokovic won against Berrettini in a tough four-set encounter. After losing the first set on a tie-break, Djokovic won the next three sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. The Serb’s sixth Wimbledon title put him level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal who have won 20 Grand Slams.
In the last eight, Djokovic will be wary of the Italian’s prowess. Berrettini himself endured a tough match against Germany’s Oscar Otte. Berrettini was in control for most of the match, winning the first set 6-4. But, he lost the second 6-3 but recovered comfortably to win the next two sets. Berrettini will be eyeing revenge. On the other hand, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev will also be aiming to deny Djokovic the Calendar Grand Slam.
In the 2020 US Open, Novak Djokovic was disqualified after hitting a linesperson during the fourth round. Djokovic will be aiming to overcome the disappointment of not winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2021. He lost two consecutive matches to Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreno Busta.
Djokovic is aiming to become the second player after Rod Laver to achieve the Calendar Grand Slam. Laver achieved the feat in 1969 as he won all four Grand Slams. Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times, French Open twice, and Wimbledon six times. This is in addition to winning the US Open three times. However, Djokovic is the only player in the history of the Open Era to win all four Grand Slams twice. He is also the only player o have a positive win-loss ratio against both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The US Open, though, has seen many new winners in the last decade. The likes of Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem are a symbol that the young brigade emerges powerful at Flushing Meadows. The trio of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer has won a total of 12 US Open titles. A US Open win will not only create a Calendar Grand Slam, but he will also win his 21st Grand Slam which is the most by any men’s player in Tennis.
