Novak Djokovic may not have finished off his calendar-year Grand Slam at the US Open on Sunday, but he’ll still have plenty of chances to add to his major title haul in the 2022 tennis season.
Djokovic won the first three Grand Slam titles of the year in 2021, but came up just short in his attempt to become the first man to capture all four major championships in the same year since 1969.
Medvedev: Djokovic is greatest player ever
Daniil Medvedev spoiled the party, winning the US Open final 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 over Djokovic, who didn’t quite have his best game on the day.
“I want to say sorry for you fans and Novak, because, I mean, we all know what he was going for today,†said Medvedev, who won his first major title. “I never said this to anybody, but I’ll say it right now: for me, you are the greatest tennis player in history.â€
Currently, Djokovic stands tied with both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 career Grand Slam titles. But with Federer at the tail end of his career and Nadal struggling with injury issues, Djokovic appears poised to break that tie – potentially in a big way – in 2022.
Djokovic will start the year as the +125 pick to win the Australian Open, according to PointsBet. Nadal (+150) comes in as the favorite at the French Open, as usual, with Djokovic the +220 second choice. Djokovic also stands as the favorite at Wimbledon (+110) and at the 2022 US Open (+125, via FanDuel Sportsbook).
In other words, Djokovic could easily win multiple titles next year, and will be a contender in every Grand Slam for the foreseeable future. At the same time, Medvedev’s win shows that a new era of men’s tennis is finally arriving – even if the old guard isn’t entirely ready to let go just yet.
Barty, Osaka lead women’s 2021 tennis odds
While the men’s US Open final featured the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, the women’s final was historic in a completely different way. British 18-year-old Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam tournament by beating 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final on Saturday.
It was the first time two unseeded players had met in a Grand Slam final in tennis’ Open Era. Raducanu became the youngest woman to win a major title since Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004 at age 17.
“You say, ‘I want to win a Grand Slam,’ but to have the belief I did, and actually executing, winning a Grand Slam,†Raducanu said after her win. “I can’t believe it.â€
The victory propelled Raducanu toward the top of the odds boards for the 2021 tennis majors, but she’s not the favorite just yet. Without a clear dominant force on the women’s side, that honor is split between three players.
Naomi Osaka is the +500 co-favorite at the 2022 Australian Open alongside Ashleigh Barty. The two also share that honor at the US Open, each standing as +550 picks next year. Meanwhile, Barty is the +500 pick to win Wimbledon, while clay-court specialist Iga Swiatek rates as the +450 pick to win the French Open in 2022.
Despite dominant performance from Djokovic in 2021, it may not work in the same way during 2022. Medvedev gave belief to many upcoming youngsters that Djokovic could be beaten at grand slams. Meanwhile, Rafa, Stan and Thiem, all of whom can challenge Djokovic at AO 2022, will be back with full fitness and motivation. Players like Zverev, Berrettini, Tsitsipas, Rublev, Felix Augur, Hurkaxz, Shapovalov, Alcraz etc., are waiting in the wings to challenge anybody. However, I feel that we may have to reconcile with the imminent retirement of the muchloved tennis great Roger Federer. Of course, the world of tennis will move on but Roger will be remembered as the Greatest Tennis Player that held the Tennis Raquet in the history of the game.