Latest update April 9th, 2025 12:59 AM
Novak Djokovic defeats Roger Federer to win U.S. Open
NEW YORK – Taking the court more than three hours later than originally planned, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic delivered two of the best sets of tennis this tournament has seen. By the fourth set, though, the crowd’s beloved Federer had lost a step. He could not keep pace with No. 1 Djokovic, who earned his 10th Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Djokovic has dominated the Grand Slams this year – this is his third major title, and he was runner-up at Roland Garros – but Federer has been playing like he did in his dominant years. He’d won 93 percent of his service games this year, a career best. He hadn’t dropped a set in the fortnight.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after beating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the men’s singles final on day fourteen of the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
They’d played 41 times prior to this championship match, most recently at this year’s Wimbledon final, with Federer leading the head-to-head by the slightest margin: 21-20. This final was expected to be a battle.
Just as they prepared to walk out to the court, rain started falling. It forced tournament organizers to push the start back to 7:18p.m. Everyone had already arrived. Bradley Cooper, Anna Wintour, David Beckham, Robert Redford, and dozens of other celebrities waited out the three-hour delay. Finally, the skies cleared and court was dried. And from the moment they started, it was clear that both had brought his best tennis.
After forcing deuce five times but failing to convert in Federer’s first service game. In his next, Djokovic earned three break-point opportunities. He failed in the first two, but finally converted when a Federer backhand went long. It was only the third time Federer had been broken in the tournament, and it had come on the 25th shot of the rally.
Serving to consolidate the break, Djokovic slipped and fell at the net. He looked fine as he stood up, but it looked like something might be wrong as he allowed Federer a quick break. That evened the set at 2-2. The momentum briefly shifted there, as Federer took four straight points to hold serve and take the advantage.
Djokovic responded by holding serve, sealing the game with an ace, then quickly breaking Federer. Federer was giving away points with uncharacteristic errors. They rallied throughout the set, Djokovic earning his first set point on a short winner at the net. Federer held to 4-5, but Djokovic answered with a quick 40-0 hold to take the set.
It was the first set Federer surrounded in the fortnight. He came into the match with a 28-set win streak.
Federer had two opportunities to break in Djokovic’s first service game in the third set, but failed. He’d had 15 chances to break serve to that point, but only converted on three. Serving for the set, Djokovic game Federer jumped out 15-40. Djokovic held off the first break point. They rallied on the next point, Djokovic finally winning it when a Federer shot went long. Djokovic fought all the way back to take the set, and the 2-1 lead.
And from there, the writing seemed to be on the wall. Djokovic proved why he is the one who already held two major titles this year; why he is the world No. 1. In the fourth, Djokovic earned an early break, and another at 4-2 to take complete control. As the Serbian served for the trophy, the crowd continued rallying behind Federer. He gave them a final gift with a massive forehand slam to get to 15-30, then a forehand winner to force break point. But as he had all night, Djokovic fought it off.
There was no rattling Djokovic. He played the solid tennis that as been his trademark. He responded with an ace. But then Federer showed his fight. He broke to push the set to 5-3. The crowd went absolutely crazy with every point he won.
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