Quote of the Day: Daniil Medvedev asks 36-year-old Novak Djokovic, "What are you still doing here?"

After falling to Novak Djokovic in another Grand Slam final, Daniil Medvedev was left asking the same question many of the Serbian’s defeated opponents often ask: When is this guy going to retire already?

The 36-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down, and after claiming his fourth US Open title—an all-time record-equalling 24th Grand Slam crown—he certainly has no reason to do so either, especially now that he’s also set to retake the ATP Tour’s world No. 1 ranking on Monday.

Medvedev, who was bidding for his second Grand Slam title and looking to unseat the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the same tournament, was gracious in defeat—and had the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd in stitches with a hilarious runner-up speech.

When asked to share his thoughts about the 2023 US Open winner, Medvedev had just one question:

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I mean, first of all I want to ask Novak: ‘What are you still doing here?!’ Come on!

Jokes [aside], it’s, what, our third final? And maybe not the last, I hope—I mean, you’re probably going to be in many more!

I don’t know when you’re planning to slow down a little bit? But congrats to you and your team, I mean, 24? I feel like I have not a bad career, and I have 20 titles; you have 24 Grand Slams. Wow.

So yeah, congrats to you and your team. You guys are amazing.

The No. 3 seed also gave a shout out to his wife Daria, as his defeat spoiled their anniversary night:

“I was here two years ago when I won, and I was like, What a great anniversary gift for my wife! It’s a pretty shit one today,” he added, as cameras caught Daria’s wry smile from Medvedev’s player box. “It’s funny, because the days usually change but today Sunday is again our anniversary.

“I thought, like, come on! Do it one more time! Yeah… it didn’t happen.”

After the match, 2021 champ Medvedev proved pensive as he reflected on his “regrets” during the 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat—his second Grand Slam final loss to Djokovic, after the 2021 Australian Open.

“Oh, regrets, for sure. Should have won [the second set]. Should have won it, but sometimes tennis is not that easy,” he admitted, highlighting his puzzling choice to go for a cross-court passing shot on set point instead of hitting to the open court: “I have two choices and I chose the wrong one.”

“A lot of regrets, but at the same time, 24 other finalists… many more guys have a lot of regrets playing him in the final of a Slam,” he added with a grin.