“He’s Going to Get a Fight”: Daniil Medvedev on Stopping Novak Djokovic at US Open 2021

In less than two weeks, Novak Djokovic starts his bid to become the first man in the Open Era to win a Calendar Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open. However, World No.2 Daniil Medvedev intends to stop Djokovic, a challenge that is no less than climbing Mount Everest.

Medvedev got a taste of Djokovic’s dominance at this year’s Australian Open when the Serbian thrashed him in straight sets. Notwithstanding, the Russian knows the pressure would be on the 20-time Grand Slam champion to achieve the Calendar Slam.

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Daniil Medvedev issues threat to Novak Djokovic

During the media press conference at the Cincinnati Masters, a journalist asked Medvedev whether he would be able to break Djokovic’s unbeaten 21-0 run at the Grand Slams at the upcoming US Open.

The Russian asserted that Djokovic would have to battle hard to get his hands on the US Open trophy and he’s going to try the hardest to stop the World No.1.

“I will try. We know his biggest goal. He is one of the best players in history, if not the best. But he knows that he needs to prove it every time. He cannot win a Slam because we let him, he’s going to get a fight,” said Medvedev.

Much has changed since Djokovic’s medal-less exit from the Tokyo Olympics. After the physically and mentally exhausting Olympics, Djokovic withdrew from the National Bank Open and the Cincinnati Masters.

Meanwhile, Medvedev clinched his 4th Masters 1000 title in Toronto last week and is in the sublime form heading to the US Open. At the ongoing Cincinnati Masters, Medvedev has reached the third round and now faces Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the quarterfinals.

For Djokovic, the stakes are incredibly high. If he wins, he not just achieves a historic Calendar Grand Slam but also races ahead of his arch-rivals, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, in the Grand Slam tally.

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As for Medvedev, who has suffered defeat in both his Grand Slam final appearances, going past the finish line is going to be a monumental task, especially in best-of-five sets against Djokovic.