Novak Djokovic could not clear the final hurdle in his quests for a record 21st Grand Slam title and a calendar-year Grand Slam as his bid for both collapsed in a stunning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat against Russian Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final on Sunday.
Medvedev, playing in his third major final, finally hoisted a Grand Slam trophy after avenging a straight sets defeat against Djokovic in the Australian Open final earlier this year.
The 34-year-old Serb was trying to become the first man in over 50 years to win all four Grand Slam events (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open) in the same year. It would have made him only the third man to achieve the feat after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969), who was watching from a courtside seat.