US Open 2018 Final Highlights: Novak Djokovic beats Juan Martin del Potro to win 14th Grand Slam title

"It's not easy to speak right now but I love you guys. I'm so happy to be playing the final against this magnificent idol. He is one of my friends on tour and I want to see him win titles. I'm happy for Novak but sad to lose. I never gave up during my wrist problems. I was trying to fix my injuries to be here and got here after nine years. The US Open is my favourite on tour."

That's it! Novak Djokovic beats Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to win his third U.S. Open title and 14th major overall. This is the third time Djokovic has managed to earn Wimbledon and US Open title in the same year (2011, 2015, 2018).  The Flushing Meadows is now cheering for the Serbian Champion!

Relief...@DjokerNole#USOpen pic.twitter.com/TiKYL6TfXH

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

That's it! Novak Djokovic beats Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to win his third U.S. Open title and 14th major overall. This is the third time Djokovic has managed to earn Wimbledon and US Open title in the same year (2011, 2015, 2018).  The Flushing Meadows is now cheering for the Serbian Champion!

Djokovic breaks and leads 5-3.  Another rally and again Djokovic is the victor. Del Potro's forehand goes wide to give Djokovic the break. With a two-set lead and he will now serve for the US Open title.

Djokovic holds and leads 4-3 in the third set. two games away from a sensational win. However, it was not smooth sailing for the Serb as he began with a double fault in the service game. But a couple of errors from Del Po offers a window of opportunity for Djokovic who will not miss. 

Break Back!  At the three-hour mark, it's 3-3 in the third set between Djokovic and del Potro. The roar of the fans in Flushing Meadows is deafening now! confident again! Del Potro seems to be confident again!

Break! Del Potro breaks for 2-3. Djokovic, who had game points, given a time violation warning for exceeding the 25-second service clock. Del Potro is down two sets but he is still hanging in there. 

Djokovic breaks in fourth game of third set! His his phenomenal returning skills, breaking Juan Martin del Potro to take a 6-3, 7-6(4), 3-1 lead.
Brilliant defense from the Serbian and the finishing line is in sight for him. 

Djokovic breaks in fourth game of third set! His his phenomenal returning skills, breaking Juan Martin del Potro to take a 6-3, 7-6(4), 3-1 lead.
Brilliant defense from the Serbian and the finishing line is in sight for him. 

Djokovic breaks in fourth game of third set! His his phenomenal returning skills, breaking Juan Martin del Potro to take a 6-3, 7-6(4), 3-1 lead.
Brilliant defense from the Serbian and the finishing line is in sight for him. 

Djokovic begins with an ace and then the Argentine brings it back to 30-30. But an overhand shot is enough to secure the win for the Serbian. 2-1 for Djokovic. He  is just four games away from victory.

Del Potro gets through this game  to hold and it's 1-1. Novak Djokovic has lost from two sets up just once in his career, falling to Jurgen Melzer at Roland Garros in 2010.

We are into the third set and Djokovic kicks off in style with another win.  A  brilliant exchange on game point as Del Potro's forehand flashes wide. The Serbian holds and its 1-0 in the third set.

Djokovic takes the first point of the breaker. Del Potro mini breaks and we're back on serve! Del Potro then hits a winner for 2-1. Djokovic gets it back on serve, 2-3. 3-3 at the changeover. Del Potro to serve at 3-4. The last three points have gone Djokovic's way. Double set point and Djokovic wins the second set 7-6 (7-4). 95 mins in the making but crucially he has a two set lead. over Del Potro. He's one set away from a 14th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic holds to love (6-6) and we are into the tie-break. Phenomenal stuff from both players! The olay chants come back again for Del Potro. This tie-break may well decide the outcome of the match. 

Del Potro leads 6-5 and  will surely have a tiebreak in this second set. The pressure is back on Djokovic. Djokovic must hold to stay in the second set.

Once again it is 5-5 and the pressure is back on Del Po! A forehand volley is enough to wrap up the deal for now.  110 mins & counting in the match.

Good hold and Del Potro leads 5-4 in the second set. Del Potro is opening up the court a lot more now  and the ole's are ringing from the crowd. Djokovic to serve at 4-5

What a marathan game this turned out to be! Two massive lobs from DelPo and Djokovic smashes the ball away to make it 30-15. But Del Po comes back to make it 40-40 and then has an advantage, a break point. But he fails to grab the chance. Remember that point if he doesn't win the set. But at deuce the errors just keep coming from Djokovic. A double fault on deuce number five. This game is has been going 20mins. Meryl Streep's face tells the story. Novak Djokovic has saved three break points. But finally, Djokovic puts the eighth game to bed. 4-4. 

And the award for best performance by a fan in a leading role goes to...

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— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Three games in a row for Del Potro with some giant forehands. The crowd support is really working for him. Djokovic, on the other hand, missed a couple of chances to get back.  It's 4-3 and Novak to serve. But he is continuing to get annoyed with the chants of Del Po!  

Juan Martin Del Potro earns a break point and Del Potro breaks in sixth game of the second set. Back to back unforcedd errors and Del Po is back in business! The crowd is really affecting the momentum and  Djokovic is visibly flustered. Is the momentum of this match about to change? Its 3-3

Staying in the match by any means possible...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/ZFbMCBSTD1

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

From 15-all, Del Potro brings out his best. He first wins with a good forehand and then unleashes another big serve to secure the game point and moments later a forehand winner helps him to hold! The forehand down the line seems like his favourite shot. Crucial period of play. The crowd has also found its voice!

An early break in the 2nd set for the Joker! Simply too many errors from Del Potro, on both sides. Djokovic extends his lead to 3-1. Djokovic consolidates the break with a hold of serve. Seems like Novak Djokovic is really pushing the envelope here.

Early break in the 2nd set...

Djokovic extends his lead 6-3 3-1...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/7NuYovJ8XL

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Djokovic breaks! He is suffocating his opponent with the length and he goes up 2-1. At 30-30 Del Potro's forehand leads to his downfall and it gives a breakpoint to Novak who obliges to go a set and a break up.

Djokovic comfortably holds his serve and it is back at 1-1.  A routine service hold is secured with a backhand winner down the line.

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Who else but @DjokerNole...

Unreal backhand winner and the pressure is piling on Del Potro at the moment...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/8e92lrovnv

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Del Potro saves a break point in the very first game of set two—and holds. Djokovic was  30-0 up but from there Del Po fashions a remarkable comeback and a big serve saves the day!  Del Potro's won 12 of 14 points on his serve so far.

Novak Djokovic strikes first! He wins the opening set, 6-3. An error in the opening point pegs back Del Po.  Djokovic makes maximum use of the advantage but then it is back at 30-30. At 40-30 it is set point for Novak. And once again Del Potro nets a forehand. Djokovic seals the deal in 42 minutes. Will opening set decide the outcome of the match?

First set ?

Djokovic serves out the set 6-3...

Will Del Potro fight his way back into the championship?#USOpen pic.twitter.com/0SZMqrEj8I

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Perseverance and patience yield the desired result for Novak Djokovic as he breaks Del Potro in the 8th game and will serve for the opening set. Del Po's forehand is letting him down. Novak in lockdown mode and has his eyes  on the opening set

Strong hold from Novak Djokovic and it s 4-3 in the first set. A couple of excellent shots help him to a love hold, and the pressure is back on Juan Martin Del Potro's shoulders. Lets see how it goes from here on!

Again Del Potro holds to 15. The serve comes to his rescue. This is becoming a mirror image of the previous game. The crowd continues to egg on  Juan Martin Del Potro vociferously!

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Early glimpse of the Thorhand...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/w5KnRcvRMP

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Novak Djokovic breezes away to a 3-2 lead in the first set. This time at 40-15. It was 15-15 at one point but Djokovic next two serves are good enough to take him through. We are in for a thrilling contest. Fasten your seat belts. 

Once again the Argentine comes back and its four holds for him to make it 2-2. Del Potro's big serves and big ground shots so far are really helping him. The backhand finally comes seals the deal! Confident start from Del Po

Interesting period of play as Del Potro first soars to a 0-30 lead. But Djokovic rallies back to level it at 30-30 with a good rally. A big forehand takes it to deuce before Djokovic finally holds to lead 2-1 in the opening set.

Juan Martin Del Potro holds! Big booming serves from the Argentine and he leads 40-0 before finally sending one forehand to seal it in love! Its 1-1 in the opening set.

Novak Djokovic wins the first game! Good tactics by Djokovic to take so many balls early. That last point Del Potro hit the slice. But Djokovic went down the line with the slice and then exposed the backhand to seal the deal.  Encouraging start for the Joker!

Novak Djokovic to serve. Crowd full volume. Del Potro seems like the crowd favourite tonight. Ready, set, PLAY!

Juan Martin Del Potro has won the toss and elected to receive first. Remember Del Potro has been on fire shooting 68 aces during the tournament, winning 82 percent of his first serve points. 

The opening ceremony is underway and America the Beautiful is being played inside the Arthur Ashe stadium. Stay tuned for live action

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— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

They’ve played 18 times over the course of 11 years...

Who's leaving New York with the #USOpen Men's singles title today?https://t.co/BcrA73os6q pic.twitter.com/ghWLTBl94U

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Once again it is raining at the venue. For whom are the gloomy skies a sign of things to come. However, since the roof is on, the men's final will be played with the roof closed.  

CoCo Vandeweghe and Ashleigh Barty beat Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos in the final of the US Open in women’s doubles. They beat Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos 3-6, 7-6, 7-6. This is the first US Open title for No.13 seeds CoCo Vandeweghe and Ashleigh Barty.

Down the memory lane!

Their first career meeting...@DjokerNole ? @delpotrojuan

?: 2007 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/jGDJS2EVct

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 9 September 2018

Del Potro has not been able to beat Djokovic in four grand slam matches. But if Del Potro does cause an upset then he will become the first South American to win more than one US Open title. But Djokovic has won his last three matches against Del Potro.

Novak Djokovic will look to win Wimbledon & the US Open in the same season for the 3rd time (2011 & 2015). The only man to win both in the same year on three or more occasions in tennis history is Roger Federer (4 straight from 2004-07).

Novak Djokovic's road to the final [MORE]

Juan Martin Del Potro run into the final MORE

Hello and Good Morning! Welcome to our live coverage of the men's singles final featuring Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro. Heading into the finals Djokovic knows he faces a tough challenge. “He’s a big-time player. He’s a big-match player. He’s a Grand Slam winner. He’s playing tennis of his life, without a doubt, in the last 15 months,” Djokovic said on of his “dear friend” Del Potro. Del Potro has been on fire shooting 68 aces during the tournament, winning 82 percent of his first serve points. In head to head records, Djokovic is ahead with 13 Grand Slam titles. Del Potro has just one, a US Open championship he won against then-defending champion Roger Federer in 2009. However, Del Potro knows that the odds are stacked against him. But he refused to rule out a surprise and said, “He’s playing so good. He will be the favorite to win on Sunday,” Del Potro said. “But I don’t know. When I played Roger (Federer) nine years ago, he was the favorite to win, as well. I will try to make the surprise again.”