Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev are the last men standing in the men's singles draw at the 2023 US Open after both navigated complicated closing moments in Friday's semifinals.
Djokovic was a straight-sets winner against American upstart Ben Shelton in the afternoon, while Medvedev knocked off top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The first trophy was also won on Day 12, with Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury clinching a historic men's doubles three-peat in Ashe. Action also raged on in the wheelchair and junior competitions on Day 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Let's take a trip around the grounds for an executive summary of Friday's top stories.
Djokovic hangs up on Shelton
For two-and-a-half sets, Djokovic put on a clinic, continuing former college student Shelton's Grand Slam education. But late in set three, the former Florida Gator showed some bite. Shelton channeled the best of his power game to storm back from 2-4 in the final set and bring up a set point on return at 5-4.
Djokovic, suddenly vulnerable, did just enough to escape in straights with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) win, advancing to his 10th US Open final.
"It was a quite close ending to the match with crowd getting involved," Djokovic told the press. "So of course it wasn't easy to close this match out, but I'm really glad I did in three sets. I didn't want to take this match to [a] fourth set, that's for sure.
"Obviously, I knew that he's got a lot of firepower. He has an amazing pop on the serve, he's just so dynamic and very unpredictable what comes next. I just had to stay there mentally, present, calm, and focus on the game plan and what I need to do and try to be solid from baseline, which for most of the match I have done and kind of made him play, made him uncomfortable."
Shelton actually held a slight edge (13-11) in rallies of nine or more balls and won 66% of his second-serve return points. But Djokovic dominated the shorter exchanges and excelled with an 84% win rate behind his first serve. He also won 23 of his 26 points at net.
Following the win, Djokovic used Shelton's trademark "phone call" celebration, a moment that quickly went viral. Shelton, who did not see it until after the match, responded in the press room.
"I don't like when I'm on social media and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can't celebrate," he said. "I think if you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want.
"As a kid growing up, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so that's all I have to say about that." he added with a smile.
Djokovic was also asked about the "celly": “I just love Ben's celebration," the Serbian said with a grin. "I thought it was very original, and I copied him. I stole his celebration."
Medvedev a '12' as midnight strikes on Alcaraz
Two titanic games went the way of Medvedev in the fourth set to help him seal a 7-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory. After breaking in a seven-deuce game to lead 4-2, the third seed finished the job by holding in a five-deuce game, fighting off three break points in the process.
"This game was absolutely amazing," Medvedev said of the pivotal return game, in which he fought off seven game points before converting on his second break point. "Every time he had these game points, I was saying to myself, 'I can win this game. I can win this game.'
"I managed to hit some amazing points. We were both pumping up the crowd because the points were unbelievable. When I won it, I was, like, 'Let's go, try to finish the match.' I managed to do it."
Alcaraz was in the ascendancy early but could not pay off his hot start with a break, and Medvedev rounded into form as the opening set wore on. The Spaniard mounted a comeback in the third set but his 0-for-6 mark on fourth-set break points spelled the end of his US Open reign.
Before the match, Medvedev said he needed to be an "11 out of 10" to defeat Alcaraz. On Friday, he rated himself a 12... and he knows he'll need a repeat performance to deny Djokovic his record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title in the final.
Doubles: Ram/Salisbury clinch three-peat
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury became the first team in the Open Era to win three straight US Open men's doubles crowns with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden in Friday's final. The dramatic three-setter opened play in Ashe and included a commendable act of sportsmanship from Bopanna, who conceded a crucial point late in the final set when a would-be Ebden winner brushed his arm.
Read the full match report below.
Wheelchair: De Groot on brink of calendar Slam
Women's singles world No. 1 Diede de Groot defeated Momoko Ohtani, 6-3, 6-1, to advance to the US Open final, where she will bid to complete the calendar-year Grand Slam for the third straight year.
The Dutchwoman will meet longtime rival Yui Kamiji in Sunday's final in the 2023 US Open Wheelchair Championships presented by Deloitte.
Juniors: California dreamin' for singles finalists
Two Californians advanced to the junior singles finals on Day 12. Learner Tien, boys' singles finalist at the Australian Open earlier this year, outlasted 15th seed Arthur Gea, 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-1. In the girls' singles draw, wild card Katherine Hui took out 10th seed Laura Samsonova, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the final.
Read our full junior wrap below.
Shot of the Day:
Shelton powers one past Novak...
Quote of the Day:
"[Medvedev] is one of the best returner on the tour. It's amazing how he can return from the back of the court really deep and really powerful. He's amazing. And when I do serve and volley, he always find the passing shot from, you know, from his house (laughter). It's amazing." — Carlos Alcaraz finds humor in Medvedev's red-hot returning
Tweet of the Day:
Djokovic added some post-match spice by stealing Shelton's signature celebration after knocking out the American.
Photo of the Day:
Alcaraz was chasing shadows all too often against Medvedev.
