Novak Djokovic captured his 10th Grand Slam title Sunday at the US Open after Roger Federer once more pushed the world number one him to his highest level.
The 28-year-old Serbian star defeated 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, pulling level at 21-21 in the greatest current rivalry in tennis.
Ageless wonder Federer, turning back the clock at 34, still hasn't won a Grand Slam since 2012 at Wimbledon after losing the US Open and Wimbledon finals to Djokovic this year.
But he has showed Djokovic the level he must reach in order to win major titles.
"Coming out knowing you are playing against probably the best player in the history of the game adds to the pressure," Djokovic said.
"He's never going to drop his level. I need to produce my best level against him and that's what was needed from me to win this trophy."
Djokovic was serving for the match at 5-2 in the fourth set when Federer broke and threatened again when Djokovic served in the final game before finally falling after three hours and 20 minutes.
"Roger showed why he's a champion, making me play to the last point," Djokovic said. "It was a huge relief when I saw that forehand return go out.
"I'm going to try and enjoy and nurture this victory for as long as I can."
For Federer, who failed to become the oldest US Open champion since Ken Rosewall at 35 in 1970, it was a return to the US Open final for the first time since a 2009 loss to Juan Martin Del Potro, although he could not claim his sixth career crown, and first title since 2008, on the New York hardcourts.
"The rivalry, it has been a good one," Federer said. "It's always tough playing against one another. I think we walk away from it knowing more about our games and about ourselves really."
A day after US Open women's champion Flavia Pennetta dropped in a casual last mention that she was retiring, Federer teased the crowd of 26,420 about his future for a split second before making his plans clear.
"I'm very pleased with where my game is at," Federer said.
"It feels like it has moved in the right direction. I'm back in the final for the first time since 2009. I love the sport. I've got a lot of passion.
"One last thing -- I'll see you guys next year."
No one will be happier for that than Djokovic, who sees Federer as a role model for what he might achieve over the next six years of his own career.
"I have to share my admiration for Roger and everything he's doing for tennis," said Djokovic. "He keeps improving and keeps on going.
"I have a tremendous respect for Roger and what his game is representing for me and for every other player, for everything he has ever achieved."
Djokovic has some impressive achievements of his own, winning three Grand Slam titles in a season for the second time in his career after 2011.
"It has been an incredible season, the second best of my career only behind 2011," said Djokovic, who noted one major difference.
"I'm enjoying this year more than any previous one in my life. Because I'm a husband and a father now, this makes this one even sweeter.
"Results like these give me the motivation to keep going."
AFP
Mon Sep 14 2015
Djokovic celebrates with the trophy at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. - Mike Stobe/Getty Images for the USTA/AFP
MITRA lulus lebih RM95 juta untuk 11 program masyarakat India
Kesemua program yang dalam pelaksanaan itu memberi tumpuan kepada usaha memperkasakan sosioekonomi komuniti India dalam negara.
Kestabilan sosiopolitik Sabah bolehkan agihan ekonomi saksama - Juhar
Smber daya, kekayaan alam semula jadi dan potensi ekonomi dalam masyarakat dapat dibahagi dengan cara memberi peluang sama kepada rakyat.
Kenanga jangka OPR stabil 3.0 peratus pada 2025
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd menjangka Kadar Dasar Semalaman (OPR) kekal stabil pada 3.0 peratus sepanjang 2025.
Johor sasar jumlah ternakan cecah 200,000 ekor pada 2027
Johor menyasarkan jumlah ternakan di negeri ini mencapai hingga 200,000 ekor pada 2027 setelah berjaya mencapai jumlah pengeluaran ternakan sebanyak 152,000 ekor hingga bulan lepas.
Hargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat dan penglibatan - Lee Lam Thye
Lee Lam Thye menekankan keperluan mendesak untuk menghargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat, dan penglibatan yang lebih baik.
Malaysia perlu bersedia penuhi keperluan TBB yang semakin meningkat - Fadillah
Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu (TBB) di negara ini semakin meningkat seiring dengan keyakinan pelabur asing khususnya untuk mewujudkan pusat-pusat data.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Fahmi berkata ia termasuk isu Internet di kawasan terpencil, pedalaman dan pulau-pulau dalam memastikan akses Internet berkelajuan tinggi lebih meluas.
Pelajar tahfiz perlu teroka bidang teknologi
Kira-kira 200,000 pelajar tahfiz di negara ini, perlu dipastikan untuk mempunyai kemampuan dan peluang menjadi tenaga penggerak kepada umat Islam Malaysia dalam meneroka bidang yang dahulu dilihat sebagai asing., tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Perpaduan rakyat prasyarat ekonomi mampan
Tidak semua negara Islam mempunyai ruang dan kesempatan untuk terus aman dan damai, dan mempunyai peluang untuk menikmati ekonomi yang kukuh dan berkembang seperti Malaysia, tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Tidak perlu tergesa-gesa tukar ke lesen B - JPJ
Pemegang Lesen Memandu Malaysia (LMM) Kelas B2 dan B1 tidak perlu tergesa-gesa mendaftar Program Khas Peralihan LLM Kelas B2/B1 Kepada LMM Kelas B kerana tiada had masa ditetapkan untuk permohonan.
Djokovic derma kemenangan emas Olimpik buat misi kemanusiaan
Juara Grand Slam 24 kali itu jelas beremosi selepas memastikan kemenangan untuk negaranya dengan kemenangan 7-6 7-6 ke atas pesaingnya.
Djokovic, Alcaraz berentap di pentas final tenis Olimpik 2024
Djokovic menewaskan pemain Itali, Lorenzo Musetti, manakala Alcaraz menyingkirkan pemain Kanada, Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Olimpik Paris 2024: Impian Nadal berakhir selepas kekalahan teruk kepada Djokovic
Rafael Nadal terpaksa melupakan impian untuk menambah koleksi pingat di Sukan Olimpik selepas tewas kepada Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-4.
Sensasi Alcaraz pertahan gelaran Wimbledon
Di sebalik kemenangan 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4), Alcaraz tetap percaya lawan dari Serbia itu kekal sebagai 'Superman' dalam arena tenis dunia.
Djokovic tewas peringkat separuh akhir Tenis Terbuka Australia
Novak Djokovic tumpas kepada pemain Itali Jannik Sinner di peringkat separuh akhir kejohanan Terbuka Australia.
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic berang provokasi 'sang pengecut'!
Djokovic sedikit terusik dengan kata-kata nista yang seakan cuba untuk merapuhkan semangat berkobar-kobar juara 10 kali kejohanan itu.
Piala Davis: Jannik Sinner bantu Itali julang kejuaraan pertama sejak 1976
Pemain nombor empat dunia itu menewaskan Djokovic dan kemudiannya Alex De Minaur pada hari Ahad untuk meraih kemenangan 2-0.
Djokovic menang jelajah akhir ATP ketujuh di Itali
Novak Djokovic memenangi kejuaraan Jelajah Akhir ATP ketujuhnya dengan penuh bergaya, menewaskan pemain tuan rumah Jannik Sinner.
Sensasi gelaran Grand Slam ke-24 Djokovic
Pemain Serbia itu menewaskan Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Tenis Terbuka AS: Daniil Medvedev kejutkan Carlos Alcaraz untuk ke final
Daniil Medvedev mencipta kejutan dalam Kejohanan Tenis Terbuka Amerika Syarikat apabila menumbangkan juara bertahan Carlos Alcaraz.