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Novak Djokovic misses 'Calendar Slam,' falls to Daniil Medvedev in US Open final

Updated Sep. 12, 2021 10:56 p.m. ET

History wasn't meant to be made Sunday.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic – in his quest to break the all-time Grand Slam record and win a calendar Grand Slam – fell in the men's final of the US Open, with No. 2 Daniil Medvedev winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

It was just the fourth US Open men's final between the top two seeds of last the 25 years, but it wasn't the barn-burner – or the result – many expected, as Medvedev grabbed the momentum in the first set and never relinquished it.

It was only the sixth loss of the season for Djokovic – including the Olympics – and Medvedev put an end to Djokovic's streak of 27 consecutive victories in Grand Slam matches.

If Djokovic had won Sunday, he would have become the first man to win a calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver accomplished the feat in 1969.

With the loss, the 34-year-old Serbian superstar remains tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the all-time lead in Grand Slam victories at 20.

Djokovic looked anything but himself in Sunday's match and the stats tell that story.

Medvedev had 16 aces to Djokovic's six, and Medvedev also converted four of his eight break chances. Djokovic broke Medvedev just once.

Medvedev also had 38 winners and 31 unforced errors, compared to Djokovic's 27 winners and 38 unforced errors.

After the match, a tearful Djokovic congratulated Medvedev on "an amazing match and an amazing tournament."

"You're one of the greatest guys on the tour," Djokovic said to Medvedev. "… I wish you many more Grand Slams."

The win gave the 25-year-old Medvedev his first Grand Slam title, after falling to Djokovic in straight sets in the 2021 Australian Open men's final earlier this season.

Here is how social media reacted to Djokovic's shocking loss:

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