Danish teenager defeats Novak Djokovic to announce himself on the world stage
Denmark’s 15-year-old World No. 1 and top-seed Novak Djokovic was in the eye of the storm. In his first tournament since 2013, he took a loss to unseeded American John Isner. He was then dispatched in the first round of the French Open by Russian Igor Sijsling.
On Monday evening, Djokovic stunned the world with his 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 victory over No. 1-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the final at New York. The victory, Djokovic’s first major title since late May in London, also made him the youngest player to win a major after 24 years.
It was the moment Djokovic earned the right to be called the next big thing.
The victory was Djokovic’s first under the chairmanship of Rafael Nadal, who’d helped Djokovic advance to the semis of the French Open in 2017.
Djokovic says that “every player, every human being deserves to experience triumph” and that he’s a “fighter with a great heart,” and he’s right. He’s also a great story.
After a tough 2018 in which he lost in the first round of the Australian Open, he bounced back to win his third slam title at the US Open. He won the French Open after an appearance in the quarterfinals in 2018, losing to Tomas Berdych in a five-setter. In 2017, he won three titles on the way to the French Open final, losing only two sets in the process.
He won the 2017 tournament at Roland Garros in his third appearance in the finale; he won at Wimbledon in his fourth appearance there; and in 2013, he finished runner-up at the
