Who beat Novak Djokovic in the 2021 US Open men's singles final?

Daniil Medvedev beat Novak Djokovic in the 2021 US Open men’s singles final.

Medvedev won in straight sets, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4, earning his first major singles championship. His controlled serving, flat groundstrokes and ability to absorb Djokovic’s returning pressure prevented the match from becoming the long, physical contest many expected.

The final carried enormous historical stakes for Djokovic. He was trying to complete the calendar-year Grand Slam—winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year—which no man had achieved since Rod Laver in 1969. Djokovic was also pursuing a record-breaking 21st major singles title.

Medvedev’s victory ended both ambitions in one match. Djokovic had beaten Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, while Medvedev defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime. The result also made Medvedev the third Russian man to win a major singles title, after Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. The 2021 US Open was therefore more than an upset: it marked the arrival of a new Grand Slam champion.