The moment is finally here. After months of anticipation, what started in February and carried through May, June and July, has its end game on Sunday. The only question is: Will it happen?
Can Novak Djokovic win the calendar Grand Slam?
It has been 33 years since a singles player won all four Grand Slams in a season. The last to do it was Steffi Graf in 1988; the last man was Rod Laver, in 1969. It's an elusive feat. Not many have even come close. Since Graf, there was just Serena Williams in 2015; however, she lost in the semifinals to unseeded Roberta Vinci.
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That's not all on the line when the World No. 1 enters his final match at the 2021 US Open against Daniil Medvedev. The 34-year-old Serbian star needs one win to break a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most all-time men's singles Grand Slam wins. They are tied at 20.
Djokovic won't have a walkover against No. 2 Medvedev in the final. The Russian will be playing in his third career Grand Slam final, having lost to Nadal in the 2019 U.S. Open final and to Djokovic at the 2021 Australian Open in January. Overall, Djokovic holds a 5-3 record against the 25-year-old Medvedev.
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Saturday's women's final was also historic, as the first qualifier — man or woman — won a Grand Slam tournament when Emma Raducanu captured the title. Will there be more history made on Sunday?
Sporting News had all the action as Djokovic goes for not one but two historic feats at the 2021 US Open final.
MORE: Watch the US Open live with fuboTV (7-day trial)
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (2) Daniil Medvedev
Match results, highlights from 2021 US Open men's final
Pregame
All times Eastern
3:43 p.m. — Fun fact: Djokovic is the first player to complete the career Grand Slam twice.
3:10 p.m. — Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai defeat Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally for the women's doubles crown.
Relevant stories
- Can Novak Djokovic win the Grand Slam? Stan Wawrinka weighs in on his chances at the US Open
- What is the Grand Slam? Explaining why Novak Djokovic is close to making history at US Open
- Who has won most Grand Slams in men's tennis?
- Djokovic edges closer to calendar Grand Slam after winning epic semifinal
- Leylah Fernandez vs. Emma Raducanu result: Teen phenom becomes first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, US Open title in Open Era
- Recapping every Canadians' US Open
- How much will the winners make in 2021? Purse, breakdown for field
- Fernandez's father and coach, Jorge, won't be at US Open final: 'I'm extremely superstitious'
- Raducanu, Fernandez set for first teenage US Open final since 1999
- Fernandez defeats No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka; 'magical' run heads to US Open final
- Leylah! Canada's Fernandez beats Elina Svitolina at US Open, advances to first career Grand Slam semifinal
- Naomi Osaka says she doesn't know when she'll return to tennis after US Open loss
- Fernandez defeats Naomi Osaka to advance to first Grand Slam fourth round
- Women's top seed Ash Barty upset in third round by American Shelby Rogers