Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer: US Open Tennis 2015 Men's Final Highlights

Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in four sets on Sunday to win his second U.S. Open title and his 10th Grand Slam overall.

The Serb won 6-5, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 as he levelled his head-to-head record with the Swiss star at the perfect time. The pair have now won 21 matches apiece from their 42 meetings.

According to the tournament's official website, Federer actually outshone his opponent in almost every statistical category at Flushing Meadows.

He hit 11 aces to Djokovic's five, won 71 per cent of his first serves to Djokovic's 66 and hit 56 winners to Djokovic's 35. Indeed, over the course of the match, Federer won just two points less than his opponent.

Crucially though, Djokovic was far more ruthless in winning break points as he claimed six from 13. By contrast, Federer converted just four of his 23 opportunities.

The New York Times' Ben Rothenberg believed the 34-year-old's profligacy to be his Achilles' heel:

Equally, the fact the Djoker saved 19 break points in the face of such a partisan crowd is a testament to his incredible resilience and ability to hold his nerve.

The 28-year-old began with intent and broke Federer in the first game as he capitalised on some sloppy play. Federer responded in kind as he immediately broke back, again largely due to some unforced errors on Djokovic's part.

David Goldman/Associated Press

The Djoker soon broke again to go 4-3 up, but despite having a break point in the next set, he was unable to convert and found himself 5-3 down, and the set was soon wrapped up at 6-4.

Federer missed an early opportunity to break in the second, but his opponent miraculously saved five break points in his opening service game. The players raced through the middle of the set, each holding comfortably until Federer led 5-4.

An incredibly hard-fought game followed, as Djokovic once again held off Federer magnificently despite the Swiss maestro's best efforts, per Rothenberg:

After eight failed attempts in the second set, Federer finally earned a vital break point to level proceedings with a trademark one-handed backhand winner.

ESPN's Carl Bialik noted the similar pattern between this final and the Wimbledon final earlier in the year:

However, like the Wimbledon showdown, Djokovic won the next two sets relatively comfortably.

Federer was aggressive in his play and came to the net 59 times over the course of the match, winning 39 of them, per the tournament's official website. However, he also hit 54 unforced errors, and his uncharacteristically loose play made things easier for the clinical Djoker.

Such was the case in the third.

The pair exchanged early breaks and some excellent rallies as Bialik highlighted each player's biggest weapon:

However, as Bialik noted, Federer's sloppiness proved his undoing and Djokovic took full advantage:

Djokovic broke his opponent twice on the way to a 5-2 lead in the final set, and though a break and a hold from Federer sparked hints of a comeback at 5-4, Federer again failed to convert three break points to level as the Serb saw out the championship thanks to a long ball, per US Open Tennis:

The Djoker won three of the four Grand Slams in 2015 and placed this season alongside his similarly successful year in 2011, according to Piers Newbery of BBC Sport: "It's been an incredible season, next to 2011 the best of my life. 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."

As for Federer, he delighted the crowd by announcing: "I'll see you guys next year."

The Swiss star's three-year search for an 18th Grand Slam title continues, but having played some of the best tennis of his career for much of the season, one more successful major could well be in the cards next year provided he restores a much-needed clinical edge to his game against top opponents like Djokovic.

Meanwhile, the Serb is in stunning form as he goes from strength to strength, so expect yet more Grand Slam titles next year as he pursues Federer's record.