| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 10 September Time: 21:00 BST |
| Scope: Live text and radio commentary across the BBC Sport website, app, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra |
Novak Djokovic will seek revenge for his 2021 US Open final loss to Daniil Medvedev knowing that victory will secure a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
The 36-year-old Serb equaled Margaret Court’s all-time record, two months after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon.
“I understand every time in a Grand Slam final, it’s another shot for history,” Djokovic said.
“I know it, and of course I’m very proud of it,” he added.
“But I don’t have much time, nor do I allow myself to reflect on these things or think about history.
“When I did that before, like the 2021 final here, maybe I was overwhelmed by the occasion and the opportunity, and I didn’t do it.
“I don’t want it to happen again. I will try to focus only on what needs to be done and tactically prepare myself for that match.”
Third seed Medvedev defeated Alcaraz in four sets to set up a return to the final which he won in straight sets two years ago in New York.
On that occasion, the Russian’s 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory denied Djokovic a calendar Grand Slam – where a player can win all four majors in the same year.
While that feat is not on the line for three-time champion Djokovic, in what will be his 36th Grand Slam final on Sunday, Medvedev is once again looking to deny his rival a historic feat.
Medvedev, 27, reached his fifth Slam final – and third in New York – with his victory in 2021 representing his only major title to date.
“I think the only way I can use it [the 2021 final] Thinking that Novak, if he loses, he will never be the same after that. He is different. It’s a different mentality,” Medvedev said.
“So he has 23 Grand Slams, a lot of Masters 1000s [titles] and number one weeks,” he added.
“So I have to use it knowing that he’s going to be 10 times better than him that day, and if I still want to beat him, I have to be 10 times better than me that day. So that’s what I’m going to do. to try to do.
“Novak will be his best version on Sunday, and I have to be the best version of myself if I want to try to beat him.”
Djokovic, whose 23 Grand Slams leave him one ahead of Rafael Nadal for the overall men’s game title, won the Australian Open and French Open this year before his Wimbledon final loss to Alcaraz in July.
Guaranteed to return to world number one on Monday, this is the third time the Serb has reached the final of all four Slams in the same season.
He also managed that in 2015, only losing the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka, and 2021, when Medvedev stopped him at the final hurdle in Flushing Meadows.
“I’m very happy with the Grand Slams results,” said Djokovic.
“To play in all four finals in all four Slams in one season is amazing. This is the highest achievement I can think of when I start the season.
“That’s what I dream of, that’s what I want. That’s what I want, in this kind of position.
“There is one more match left, so of course this conversation will be better if I win the title. But whatever happens, I am extremely proud and satisfied with what I have achieved this year.”
Djokovic defeated American Ben Shelton in straight sets in the semi-finals, ending their hopes of the men’s draw and mimicking the 20-year-old’s pick-up-a-phone celebration – which Shelton said represented him “being -dial” – then grabbed a 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victory.
He won five of his six matches in straight sets in this tournament, but had to fight back from two sets down against compatriot Laslo Djere in the third round.
Djokovic leads head-to-head with Medvedev 9-5 but they have one win each on hard courts in 2023, with Medvedev winning 6-4 6-4 in Dubai in March after Djokovic won 6-3 6-4 in Adelaide.
The winner of Sunday’s men’s singles final, which takes place after the women’s doubles final (not before 21:00 BST), will receive $3m (£2.4m).
