Novak Djokovic secured his spot in the US Open final, where he’ll vie for a 24th Grand Slam title, matching a record, after defeating unseeded American Ben Shelton in straight sets. The victory over the 20-year-old Shelton, with scores of 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), marks Djokovic’s 10th US Open final appearance.
The Serbian tennis legend expressed his contentment, stating, “I can’t be happier with where I am.” Djokovic will regain the world number one ranking after the conclusion of the US Open and is poised for a potential rematch of his Wimbledon final, depending on the outcome of the semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
At 36 years old, Djokovic is striving to become the oldest men’s champion in New York in the Open era while simultaneously matching Margaret Court’s all-time record for the most major singles titles. His remarkable consistency is evident as he has won 22 of his last 23 Grand Slam semi-finals. His last US Open title was claimed in 2018.
This year, Djokovic has reached the final at all four major tournaments, a feat he’s achieved for the third time. He is now aiming to secure three Grand Slam titles in a single season for the fourth time in his illustrious career.
Facing Shelton for the first time, Djokovic took an early lead by breaking serve for a 4-2 advantage in the opening set. Shelton displayed resilience by saving four set points while serving at 2-5, but Djokovic eventually sealed the set.
In the second set, Djokovic capitalized on opportunities, breaking Shelton’s serve again and securing a two-set lead. The third set saw both players battling fiercely, with Shelton even holding a set point. However, Djokovic prevailed in a tie-break, securing his place in a 36th Grand Slam final.