"I thought about doing this t-shirt a few days ago," said Djokovic. "I didn't share it with anybody. Kobe was a close friend of mine, we chatted a lot, about the winner's mentality."

The 36-year-old Serb becomes the oldest U.S. Open men’s winner in the Open Era and the first to win three Grand Slam events in a season for the fourth time.

Novak Djokovic earned himself another shot at a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title after beating unseeded American Ben Shelton in straight sets on Friday to advance to his 10th US Open final.

Daniil Medvedev upset defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in an enthralling semi-final duel to reach the US Open final on Friday.

Defending champion Alcaraz moved to within one win of a potential dream final with Novak Djokovic with an emphatic straight sets victory over German 12th Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic shrugged off ninth seed Fritz 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to extend his dominance of American players in New York and take another step closer to a record-extending 24th men's Grand Slam title.

A tenacious Novak Djokovic survived a US Open late-night fright battling back from two sets down to tame fellow Serb Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, and 6-3 on Friday, and move into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.

The second-seeded Serbian superstar, eyeing a record-extending 24th Grand Slam singles title at these championships, booked his place in the last 32 with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victor

Novak Djokovic made a winning return to the U.S. Open by storming past Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 on Monday to reclaim the world number one ranking and take the first step towards matching Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are on a US Open collision course as the final Grand Slam tournament of season gets under way on Monday with American teenager Coco Gauff chasing a breakthrough first major title.

A titanic struggle between the world's top two players saw Djokovic -- who looked out on his feet in the second set -- save a match point before coming through on his own fifth match point for a 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) triumph.

World number one Alcaraz held on for a 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Hurkacz, rallying to beat the big-serving Pole for the second time in as many weeks.

The 23-times Grand Slam champion was not allowed to compete in the U.S. last year and earlier this year over his refusal to take a COVID-19 vaccine

Novak Djokovic was still trying to digest the loss of his Wimbledon crown to Carlos Alcaraz when one reporter asked him whether Sunday's clash was the start of a great rivalry.

Carlos Alcaraz is determined to quash any suggestions that his epic Wimbledon final win over Novak Djokovic represents the dawn of a new era despite all indications that tennis has witnessed a generational shift.

"I think he's got basically best of all three worlds," said Djokovic."People have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that."

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will contest the Wimbledon final that everyone wanted to see but Daniil Medvedev will not be tuning in on Sunday after his hopes of lifting the trophy were dashed.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz is convinced he can defeat Novak Djokovic in Sunday's blockbuster Wimbledon final, insisting there's "no time to be afraid".

Djokovic may have moved past American legend Chris Evert as the only man or woman to make 35 major finals, but he has even more significant feats in his sights on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic barely got out of second gear as he swept past a subdued Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, easing into a record 35th Grand Slam final with a whirlwind 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) victory on Friday.