By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 12, 2021
Daniil Medvedev realized his dream of winning a Grand Slam—and revealed two personal reasons powered him to this US Open crown.
Love and a limited shopping schedule.
The second-ranked Medvedev stunned world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, denying Djokovic's dream of completing the calendar Grand Slam while celebrating his wedding anniversary to wife Dasha.
Leather is the standard gift for a third anniversary, but Medvedev celebrated with silver crediting his need for a wedding gift as key to his US Open title run.
Medvedev closed his victory speech with a message of love to his wife.
"It's the third anniversary for me and my wife today and during the tournament I couldn’t think of my present," Medvedev told fans afterward. "So after the semis, [I thought] if I lose I need to find a present fast.
"When I won the only thing I I felt if I lose I have no time to have a present. I I love you Dasha, thanks a lot."
Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA/US Open