Novak Djokovic said he will treat Sunday’s US Open final “like it is the last match of my career” after battling to a five-set victory over Alexander Zverev.
Defeat by the German earlier this summer denied Djokovic the chance to become the first man to complete the Golden Slam of all four major titles and Olympic singles gold, but the main carrot of the calendar Grand Slam and a 21st slam title are now only one match away.
Zverev came from a set down in Tokyo but here the tables were turned, with Djokovic recovering from that position for the fourth match in a row and then overcoming a fourth-set hiccup to win 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2.
The latter occasion was a one-sided affair, and Medvedev vowed to do better this time.
He said: “I always give my best but I feel like I didn’t leave my heart on the court in Melbourne. Even if of course I wanted to, there was something not turning up this match.
“That’s what I’m going to try to do on Arthur Ashe with hopefully 100 per cent of fans. No matter the score, I’m just going to turn up the heat.
“I have the experience of two finals of slams that can help me. Doesn’t mean it will, but it can help me. The only thing I can say is, all what I have left, I’m going to throw it out on Sunday.”
