Victorious Djokovic honors Kobe Bryant at the US Open
Novak Djokovic couldn’t think of No. 24 without thinking of the late Kobe Bryant.
So, after winning the US Open on Sunday evening for a historic 24th Grand Slam title, Djokovic donned a blue t-shirt that paid homage to the great Los Angeles Lakers.
The t-shirt said “Mamba Forever” on the front, along with photos of Bryant and the world’s No. 1 tennis player, also known as “The Joker,” aka Djokovic. On the back in purple was the number 24, one of two numbers Bryant wore during his Hall of Fame career.
Djokovic, 36, said he came up with the idea about a week ago to honor his friend, who also shared a passion for supporting Italian soccer club AC Milan.
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He said he received advice about his own career from Bryant, who died in 2020 in a helicopter crash that also killed his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
Novak Djokovic paid tribute to Kobe Bryant after winning his 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday.
Djokovic said Bryant helped him “a lot” when he was dealing with an injury a few years ago.
“Kobe was a close friend, we talked a lot about the winning mentality when I was dealing with injury and trying to make my comeback and get back to the top of the game,” Djokovic said. “He was one of the people I relied on the most.”
“He was always there for any kind of advice, advice, any kind of support in the most friendly way,” Djokovic added. “So of course what happened a few years ago and the passing of his daughter and him hurt the men deeply, and I thought the 24 was the jersey he wore when he became a legend of the Lakers and world basketball, so I thought it could be a nice, symbolic thing to recognize him for everything he’s done.
The Serb, who also paid tribute to Bryant at this year’s Australian Open in January, took sweet revenge over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday with a crushing 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 triumph in the final of the US Open in New York. he tied Australian legend Margaret Court’s all-time record in the majors.
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A 24th grand slam eluded Serena Williams, who lost her last four major finals before retiring last year, but not Djokovic, who also becomes the oldest man to win the Flushing Meadows title in 55 years of professional era.
The 36-year-old replaced Australian great Ken Rosewall – who was 35 when he won the US Open in 1970 – in the record books with his victory in three hours and 16 minutes.
Sunday’s clash was a rematch of the 2021 final, which Medvedev won in straight sets for his only major title, denying Djokovic a legendary Grand Slam sweep in a calendar year.