‘Novak, what are you still doing here?’: Daniil Medvedev asks Djokovic when is he planning to slow down

Medvedev joked during the trophy presentation saying, "I feel like I have not a bad career and I have 20 titles, you have 24 Grand Slams."

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning the U.S. Open beside second place Russia's Daniil Medvedev

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After losing the US Open final loss against Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev joked during the trophy presentation by asking the 36-year-old Serbian “when is he planning to slow down.” On Sunday, Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title by beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a match more closely contested than the straight-set score indicated.

“First of all, Novak, I want to ask: What are you still doing here? Come on,” Medvedev said.

With Novak being the oldest Grand Slam men's singles champion, Daniil Medvedev had a question.

"I wanna ask Novak what are you still doing here?" pic.twitter.com/T2sB2dWHjV

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2023

“I mean, jokes apart, I mean, what is it? Our third final? Maybe not the last, hope so because you probably gonna be in many more.

“I don’t know when you are planning to slow down a little bit but congrats to you and your team.

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“I mean 24. I feel like I have not a bad career and I have 20 titles, you have 24 Grand Slams, wow. And so, congrats to you and your team, you guys are amazing.”

Las time then the duo faced each other at the Flushing Meadows, it was Medvedev who came on top. Medvedev said last time he won he dedicated it as a gift to his wife on their marriage anniversary, however, this time around.

“I was here two years ago when I won and I was like what a great anniversary gift for my wife and stuff like this. It’s funny dates usually change but today it is Sunday again is the anniversary. So I thought like come on do it one more time but yeah didn’t happened,” he said.

Medvedev revealed how Djokovic is still the same person, he was years ago, when he met him for the first time.

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“I find it amazing that I beat Novak in a Grand Slam Final. At this point, I’d say that’s the pinnacle of my career.. at the same time, if he & Rafa didn’t exist.. well that’s not possible.

“I played 5 finals against them & only won 1.. he pushes me to be better.. we met when I was 500 in the world.

“He was super kind to me. He treated me as a normal person. He still does. Nothing changed. 24 Grand Slams, nothing changed. I think that’s something great about a person.”

Daniil Medvedev has had a topsy-turvy relationship with fans at the US Open over the years. After the final, he thanked the crowd to always motivate him to excel.

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“And last thing guys, thank you very much. I said, I think what was it one and a half years ago I said ‘last but not least to my team thanks again to my team’ but this time, last but not least thank you guys because you are amazing. I mean, this stadium is special,” he said.

“I said it, I mean, I came here one week before the tournament and I was like, wow, I want to play good here.

“I want to, I want to play good. I want to feel the energy of this people of this crowd and I managed to do it.

“You know, I played good. I wanted to do better, but you guys are pushing me all the time. So I really hope that one more time in front of you I can hold this trophy again. Thank you,” he added.