New York: Novak Djokovic clinched his third US Open title Sunday with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 triumph over Juan Martin del Potro, taking him level with Pete Sampras’s mark of 14 Grand Slams. Djokovic, the winner at Flushing Meadows in 2011 and 2015 is now just three Slams behind Rafael Nadal and six back from the record 20 held by Roger Federer. It was also the third time the 31-year-old Serb, completed the Wimbledon-US Open double.
For World No.3 Del Potro, it was a heartbreaking experience coming in just his second Slam final, nine years after he was crowned US Open champion. It was Djokovic’s 15th win over the Argentine and fifth in five at the Slams.
With the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof closed as heavy rain swept the city, conditions were slow and sluggish. After taking just two points off Del Potro’s first three service games, Djokovic in his eighth final at the Flushing Meadows, and 23rd at the Majors pounced to break for 5-3.
The key was his success with a lung-busting 22-shot rally and he pocketed the set when the 29-year-old Del Potro netted a forehand. It was only the second set dropped by the Argentine at the tournament.
For Djokovic, it was an illustration of him growing into the championships as he took his run of consecutive sets won to 14, stretching back to the second round against Tennys Sandgren.
Djokovic was soon 3-1 up in the second set before Del Potro carved out his first breakpoint of the match to level at 3-3. He had three more chances in the eighth, all saved by Djokovic in a marathon 20-minute game which left even Hollywood superstar Meryl Streep clasping her head in astonishment.
The effort took its toll on a suddenly weary-looking Del Potro as a 95-minute set was claimed by Djokovic in the tie-break.
Djokovic sprinted into a 3-1 lead in the third set before a battling Del Potro clung on, hitting back for 3-3. But off the back of a 24-shot rally, Djokovic broke again for 5-3 and he was within tantalising touching distance of his 14th Grand Slam title, just three months after he had left Roland Garros in despair after a shattering quarterfinal exit.
He did so holding the game to love closing out the match with a ferocious overhead forehand.