Which player beat Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final?

Daniil Medvedev beat Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final. Medvedev won in straight sets, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4, to claim his first major singles title.

The match carried enormous stakes for Djokovic, who was attempting to complete the first men’s calendar-year Grand Slam since Rod Laver achieved it in 1969. Djokovic was also seeking an outright record 21st major title, which would have moved him ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the time.

Medvedev’s victory made him the third Russian man to win a major singles championship, following Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. His tall frame, deep court position and precise hard-court defense frustrated Djokovic throughout the final.

This result is sometimes confused with the 2021 Australian Open final, where Djokovic defeated Medvedev. The US Open final was the reverse: Medvedev won and Djokovic finished runner-up at the tournament for a sixth time.