Roger Federer, winner of 17 major championships and probably the greatest player of all time, did not drop a single set on his way to the US Open finals. Federer, at age 34, looked as young and graceful as he had in years. The matchup with world number one Novak Djokovic, who was equally dominant on his side of the tournament, seemed inevitable. The volatility that was found in the women’s bracket, which saw undisputed world number one Serena Williams fall to an unranked opponent in the greatest upset in women’s tennis history, was not present in the men’s final. Also unlike the women’s final, which saw ticket prices fall drastically after William’s loss, the Arthur Ash Stadium was packed with mainly pro-Federer fans despite a rain delay that pushed the beginning of the match back an hour.

Djokovic established his dominance early, winning the first set 6-4 after breaking Federer. Throughout the match an aging Federer struggled to hold his serve against the strong return game of Djokovic. Novak Djokovic has been dominant throughout the past few years in his matchups with Federer. The record is now tied at 21-21 for all time. Federer fought back to win the second set 5-7, but lost the third and fourth sets 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic was able to control the games with his power and, at the peak athletic age of 28, his agility, speed, and endurance.

This US Open is Djokovic’s 10^th of all time, putting him in the prestigious “double digit” club of tennis players. He is still seven short of Roger Federer’s all-time record. Djokovic was able to keep his laser like focus, even with an extremely pro-Federer crowd, and even in a late rally from Federer in the fourth and final set.