Page 18 - AT
P. 18
A18
SPORTSMonday 14 September 2015
Djokovic beats Federer for 10th major title
HOWARD FENDRICH Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts after defeating Roger Federer, of Switzerland, in the men’s who wound up 27-1 in ma-
AP Tennis Writer championship match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in New York. jor tournaments this season,
NEW YORK (AP) — Thrilled to including appearances
win a point in the U.S. Open Associated Press in all four finals. He beat
final, and bent on proving Andy Murray at the Austra-
a point, Novak Djokovic earn his second U.S. Open Confronted with Djokovic’s forced errors, 17 more than lian Open in January, lost
leaped and roared and title, third major champion- unequaled ability to race Djokovic. to Stan Wawrinka at the
threw an uppercut, then ship of the year and 10th along the baseline and Another key statistic: French Open in June, then
glared at some of the thou- Grand Slam trophy in all. contort his body this way Djokovic saved 19 of the beat Federer at Wimble-
sands of spectators pulling “I have a tremendous re- and that, sneakers squeak- 23 break points he faced, don in July.
for Roger Federer. spect for Roger and what ing loudly as he changed while winning six of Feder- “An incredible season,”
After winning another point his game is presenting to directions or scraping like er’s service games. Djokovic called it.
in that game, Djokovic nod- me and to any other play- sandpaper as he slid to One more: Djokovic won The 28-year-old from Serbia
ded as he smiled toward er,” Djokovic said during reach unreachable shots, 10 of the first 12 points that also won a trio of majors in
the stands. And moments the trophy ceremony. “His the 34-year-old Federer lasted at least 10 strokes, a 2011, and his career total
later, Djokovic shook his level is always going to found himself trying to put pattern that repeated itself ranks tied for seventh-most
right arm, bloodied by an (force) the best out of you the ball into the tiniest of throughout the evening. in history behind Federer.
early fall, and screamed, and that was needed from spaces. And it didn’t work. “Being back in a final is Djokovic also evened his
“Yes! Yes!” to celebrate a my side.” He wound up with 54 un- where you want to be,” head-to-head record with
missed forehand by Feder- said Federer, who last Federer at 21-all. They have
er. played in the title match at met in three of the last five
Djokovic appeared to Flushing Meadows in 2009. Grand Slam finals, and
be all alone out there in “Playing a great champi- Djokovic is 3-0 in those. It is
Arthur Ashe Stadium, try- on like Novak is a massive as spectacular a rivalry as
ing to solve Federer while challenge.” there is in tennis right now,
also dealing with a crowd After all the attention paid with contrasting styles of
loudly supporting the 17- to Serena Williams’ bid play.
time major champion pro- for the first calendar-year Rain began falling about
claimed “arguably the Grand Slam, which ended 10 minutes before they
greatest player in the his- with a semifinal loss at the were supposed to head
tory of the sport” by the U.S. Open, it’s Djokovic out from the locker room,
stadium announcer during and the start of the match
prematch introductions. was delayed for more than
In the end, Djokovic han- three hours, beginning af-
dled everything in a thrill- ter 7 p.m. Won’t happen
a-minute final on a frenetic again: The U.S. Tennis As-
night. Frustrating Federer sociation is in the midst of
with his relentless defense constructing a retractable
and unparalleled returning, roof expected to be ready
Djokovic took control late for next year’s tournament.
and held on for a 6-4, 5-7, In the third game, Djokov-
6-4, 6-4 victory Sunday to ic slipped as he raced
forward and fell, ripping
skin off his hand, elbow
and knee. Federer looked
across the net to check on
him, and Djokovic quickly
motioned that he was OK.
Perhaps a bit shaken, he
would lose six of the next
seven points, and then had
a trainer treat it at the next
changeover.q
