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As it happenedended

Novak Djokovic vs Juan Martin del Potro, US Open final as it happened: Serbian favourite wins 14th Grand Slam

Follow game-by-game coverage of the New York final

Jack Austin
Sunday 09 September 2018 09:51 EDT
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Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro meet for the first time in a Grand Slam final as they contest the men’s US Open singles title.

Both are former winners at Flushing Meadows but the occasion is all the bigger for the Argentine, who is making his second only appearance in the US Open final – nine years on from that memorable win over Roger Federer.

Djokovic, as the reigning Wimbledon champion and a 13-time Grand Slam winner, heads into the match as the favourite but Del Potro holds all the qualities needed to pull off a surprise shock in this year’s final.

Follow our game-by-game coverage below:


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What time does it start?

The final gets underway at 4pm local time, which is 9pm BST.

How can I watch it?

You’ll have to subscribe to Amazon Prime to watch the final after the internet giant bought exclusive rights to the tournament earlier this year. Alternatively, follow updates from the live blog above!

Djokovic* 2-1 6-3 Del Potro

Djokovic is going for it here now and a perfectly-judged lob forces Del Potro into a hotdog shot that is easily put away by the Serb. At 30-30 Del Potro's forehand is called long, challenged, and is long! Break point again... and what a return! The pressure cracks Del Potro's serve and Djokovic is now a set and a break up.

Jack Austin9 September 2018 22:26

Jack Austin9 September 2018 22:28

Djokovic 3-1 6-3 Del Potro*

And Djokovic consolidates the break with a hold of serve and he is really controlling this final now. Del Porto needs to do something different here as he is having very little luck on the Djokovic serve. 

Jack Austin9 September 2018 22:31

Djokovic* 3-2 6-3 Del Potro

This time Del Potro can hold but Djokovic is still making him work for it with some fine returns and forcing his rival to play one, two, three extra shots than what would have been needed to win each point. He is trying to tire him out for his service game and succeeding. 

Jack Austin9 September 2018 22:36

Djokovic 3-3 6-3 Del Potro*

Now it's time for Del Potro to put some pressure on the Djokovic serve! He is really playing off the crowd and brings it to 30-40 to finally earn a break point! It is the first time in 17 service games Djokovic has conceded one. But it is not converted!

But he's got another one now... AND HE'S DONE IT! We're back on serve!

Jack Austin9 September 2018 22:44

Djokovic* 3-4 6-3 Del Potro

Del Potro is opening up the court a lot more now and consolidates his break to hold to love! Djokovic is getting annoyed at the crowd as frustration begins to set in. Is this a shift in momentum? 

Jack Austin9 September 2018 22:48

Djokovic 4-4 6-3 Del Potro*

Now it's Djokovic's turn to be made to work hard for his serve! Great tennis being played here now and the crowd are loving it! Del Potro is piling on the pressure and takes the game to deuce! And another fantastic shot, this time a backhand down the line, earns Del Potro another break point in what was the longest rally of the match so far.

But Djokovic saves thanks to an unforced error by Del Potro. But then there's another break point but again Del Potro goes too long and gives his opponent a reprieve. Djokovic gets an advantage of his own but then a double fault! Is this a real swing game in this final? It feels like it... 

This a mammoth game now as Djokovic fails to convert any of his three game points. An onlooking Meryl Streep is flabbergasted! Djokovic saves yet another break point and now he's finally done it! He's held! What an effort by both men! 

Jack Austin9 September 2018 23:11

Djokovic* 4-5 6-3 Del Potro

It's a lot more straightforward this game than the last as Del Potro holds with relative ease, meaning Djokovic must serve to stay in this second set! 

Jack Austin9 September 2018 23:15

Djokovic* 5-5 6-3 Del Potro

And we keep going in this second set! Djokovic holds a lot easier than his last service game but Del Potro is still causing him problems. This set could go either way.

Jack Austin9 September 2018 23:22

Djokovic 5-6 6-3 Del Potro*

Del Potro sets up game point with a fine ace before taking the game to guarantee at least a tie break for himself. This set has now gone on 1 hour 18 minutes as the match goes past the two hour mark... 

Jack Austin9 September 2018 23:25

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