World number one Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in four dramatic sets to win his second US Open and 10th Grand Slam title.
The Serb won 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 in New York, and will end the year with three of the four Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic, 28, held his nerve in front of a heavily pro-Federer crowd at Flushing Meadows.
The 34-year-old Swiss had been hoping to win his 18th major title and first for three years.
In a raucous New York night session atmosphere, after the start of play was delayed by more than three hours because of rain, Federer looked to have a real chance in the third set.
However, Djokovic broke the Federer serve six times and saved 19 of 23 break points as he battled his way to a 27th win in 28 Grand Slam matches this year, reports the BBC.
Defeat by Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final in June means the Serb was just one win short of completing the first calendar Grand Slam in men’s tennis since Laver in 1969.
“It’s been an incredible season, next to 2011 the best of my life,” said Djokovic, who also won three Grand Slam titles four years ago.
“But I’m enjoying this year more than I did any previous one because I’m a husband and a father, and that makes it sweeter.”
Five-time champion Federer was playing his first US Open final since 2009, and drew one of the loudest cheers of the night when he told the crowd: “I’ll see you guys next year.”
The Swiss added: “I’m pleased with where my game is at.
“It is always tough playing [against Djokovic] and I think we both walk away from it knowing more about our games and more about each other.”
Federer came into the final having dropped serve just twice in the tournament and not having lost a set since Wimbledon, but Djokovic set about ruining those statistics.
The Serb made the sharper start, breaking the Federer serve twice in the first seven games and clinching the set after 41 minutes.
From then on, it was Djokovic’s mental fortitude as much as his tennis that shone through as he turned the match around in the third set and held off a Federer comeback in the fourth.
After a tentative start, Federer had begun to move forward in the second set, at times deploying the net-rushing return – which has been called SABR (‘Sneak Attack By Roger’) – that he has developed this summer, only for Djokovic to keep finding a way past, or over, him.
The Swiss kept pushing, however, converting his fourth set point with a rasping backhand to send the vast majority of the 23,000 spectators wild.
Djokovic, now coping with occasional boos and shouts during his service motion, looked to be struggling after letting an early lead slip in the third, but he saved two break points at 4-4 and then wrestled the momentum back his way.
Federer, rueing the missed opportunity, let his guard slip and Djokovic pounced, forcing a backhand error to clinch the set.
With the momentum back with him, the top seed broke Federer twice to lead 5-2 in the fourth and then withstood another comeback as the Swiss earned three chances to level at 5-5.
The crowd was one again roaring the 17-time Grand Slam champion back into the match but Djokovic stood firm, seeing off the break points and defiantly clenching his fist when Federer floated the ball long on championship point.
Most Grand Slam titles
17: Roger Federer
14: Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal
12: Roy Emerson
11: Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg
10: Bill Tilden, Novak Djokovic
