For-ev-er young

Daniil Medvedev of Russia won the U.S. Open men's singles title today. He was unstoppable. 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

The headlines will all focus on the fact that Novak Djokovic of Serbia lost. Had he won, he would have completed a calendar grand slam, a feat not achieved by a man since Rod Laver did it in 1969. Laver was on hand in New York to watch the proceedings.

Had the Djoker won, he also would have racked up his 21st career major tournament win, which would be the most in history by any player. He is currently tied for that honor with Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland. Neither of the latter two was on hand in New York to watch the proceedings. Their ailing bodies told them both to stay home.

But put the Djoker story aside for a minute, and take nothing away from Medvedev. He's amazing. He was overdue for a major title. Today he got his first. There will be more. He's got an enormous game, and he's wily as all get-out.

As the match started to slip away, Djokovic was pounding his racket into the ground, and in tears from all the pressure. It's the end of the season, which started in Australia an eternity ago. Everyone is exhausted, he especially. If anyone could have pulled it off, Novak was the one. But it wasn't to be.

He will get his 21st major trophy next year, and it seems likely that he will pass the other two of the Big Three at that point. So there's that. And it's possible, although not too probable, that he'll find himself in New York trying for another calendar slam in 2022.