Russian Daniil Medvedev joked about the validity of Serbian Novak Djokovicwho at 36 years old achieved his 24th grand slam by beating Medvedev in the final of the 2023 US Open.
“First of all, I want to ask Novak: What are you still doing here? Come on…” Medvedev joked on the court at the end of the final that he ended up losing.
“I don’t know when you plan to slow down a little… But congratulations to you and your team. 24 ‘grand slam’… I feel like I don’t have a bad career and I have 20 titles, but you have 24 grand slams. Wow,” added the Russian tennis player about “Nole,” who couldn’t stop laughing.
Medvedev, who had defeated Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final, could not repeat the feat and fell by a score of 6-3, 7-6(5) and 6-3which allowed the Serbian to equal Margaret Court’s record for most “grand slams” won.
“I find it incredible that he defeated Novak in a grand slam final. “That was probably the peak of my career at this point.”, assured the Russian, who also added that “if he and Rafa (Nadal) did not exist… I have played five finals against them and I have only won one (…). But Djokovic pushes me to be better.”
Already at the press conference, Medvedev reflected on a possible next meeting between the two: “When we play again, it will be a different story. I’m not sure there’s much to analyze (from the final). But yes, that’s life and tennis. I will try to be better next time.”
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