Novak Djokovic created history on Sunday by securing his fourth US Open title and tying the record with his 24th Grand Slam victory in a straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev.
In this remarkable victory, Djokovic claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 triumph over Medvedev, making him the oldest US Open champion in the Open Era at the age of 36. Djokovic, who has reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking, secured his third Grand Slam title of the year, having previously won the Australian Open and the French Open. His only setback in 2022 was a hard-fought, five-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
To honor the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, who wore the jersey number 24, Djokovic donned a tracksuit top adorned with the number 24 and ‘Mamba Forever.’ Djokovic expressed his sentiments by saying, “I don’t know where to start; it obviously means the world to me. I’m truly living my childhood dream, competing at the highest level in a sport that has given me and my family so much.”
He went on to say, “I never imagined I would be standing here talking about 24 Slams. But in the last couple of years, I felt I had a chance, a shot at history, so why not seize it? I thought of creating this T-shirt if I had the opportunity to win the tournament.”
Reflecting on his friendship with Kobe Bryant, Djokovic shared, “Kobe was a close friend; we had many discussions about the winner’s mentality. During my injury struggles, he was one of the people I leaned on the most. He was always there to provide guidance and advice. I thought 24 was the jersey number he wore when he became a legend of the Lakers and world basketball.”
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