Novak Djokovic captured his 10th Grand Slam title Sunday at the US Open after Roger Federer once more pushed the world No 1 to his highest level.
Djokovic, 28, defeated 17-time major champion Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, pulling level at 21-21 in the greatest current rivalry in tennis.
Federer, turning back the clock at 34, still hasn’t won a major title since 2012 at Wimbledon after losing the US Open and Wimbledon finals to Djokovic this year.
But he has showed Djokovic the level he must reach in order to win major titles.
“Coming out knowing you are playing against probably the best player in the history of the game adds to the pressure,” Djokovic said.
“He’s never going to drop his level. I need to produce my best level against him and that’s what was needed from me to win this trophy.”
Djokovic was serving for the match at 5-2 in the fourth set when Federer broke and threatened again when Djokovic served in the final game before finally falling after three hours and 20 minutes.
“Roger showed why he’s a champion, making me play to the last point,” Djokovic said. “It was a huge relief when I saw that forehand return go out.
“I’m going to try and enjoy and nurture this victory for as long as I can.”
For Federer, who failed to become the oldest US Open champion since Ken Rosewall at 35 in 1970, it was a return to the US Open final for the first time since a 2009 loss to Juan Martin Del Potro, although he could not claim his sixth career crown, and first title since 2008, on the New York hardcourts.
“The rivalry, it has been a good one,” Federer said. “It’s always tough playing against one another. I think we walk away from it knowing more about our games and about ourselves really.”
A day after US Open women’s champion Flavia Pennetta dropped in a casual last mention that she was retiring, Federer teased the crowd of 26,420 about his future for a split second before making his plans clear.
“I’m very pleased with where my game is at,” Federer said.
“It feels like it has moved in the right direction. I’m back in the final for the first time since 2009. I love the sport. I’ve got a lot of passion.
“One last thing -- I’ll see you guys next year.”
No one will be happier for that than Djokovic, who sees Federer as a role model for what he might achieve over the next six years of his own career.
“I have to share my admiration for Roger and everything he’s doing for tennis,” Djokovic said. “He keeps improving and keeps on going.
“I have a tremendous respect for Roger and what his game is representing for me and for every other player, for everything he has ever achieved.”
Djokovic has some impressive achievements of his own, winning three Grand Slam titles in a season for the second time in his career after 2011.
“It has been an incredible season, the second best of my career only behind 2011,” said Djokovic, who noted one major difference.
“I’m enjoying this year more than any previous one in my life. Because I’m a husband and a father now, this makes this one even sweeter.
“Results like these give me the motivation to keep going.”
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Almouneer
Started: 2017
Founders: Dr Noha Khater and Rania Kadry
Based: Egypt
Number of staff: 120
Investment: Bootstrapped, with support from Insead and Egyptian government, seed round of
$3.6 million led by Global Ventures
Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
Bridgerton season three - part one
Directors: Various
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Supy
Started: 2021
Founders: Dani El-Zein, Yazeed bin Busayyis, Ibrahim Bou Ncoula
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food and beverage, tech, hospitality software, Saas
Funding size: Bootstrapped for six months; pre-seed round of $1.5 million; seed round of $8 million
Investors: Beco Capital, Cotu Ventures, Valia Ventures and Global Ventures
The five pillars of Islam
World Food Day
Celebrated on October 16, to coincide with the founding date of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Day aims to tackle issues such as hunger, food security, food waste and the environmental impact of food production.
The five pillars of Islam
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi’s Arabic Language Centre will mark International Women’s Day at the Bologna Children's Book Fair with the Abu Dhabi Translation Conference. Prolific Emirati author Noora Al Shammari, who has written eight books that feature in the Ministry of Education's curriculum, will appear in a session on Wednesday to discuss the challenges women face in getting their works translated.
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.