As Novak Djokovic gears up to defend his title at the US Open, he is fielding questions about what’s left for him to achieve in tennis. With a career already marked by historic milestones, including the recent completion of a career Golden Slam with his men’s singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Djokovic has reached what he calls his “greatest achievement.” This gold medal win, secured at the age of 37, was the last significant title missing from his illustrious career.
Despite these accomplishments, Djokovic is not resting on his laurels. He is still motivated by the prospect of winning his 25th Grand Slam singles title, a record that would surpass all others in both men’s and women’s tennis. “I still feel the drive,” Djokovic stated. “The competitive spirit is very much alive in me. I want to make more history and continue to enjoy my time on tour.”
Djokovic’s US Open title defense got off to a strong start with a convincing first-round victory. He defeated qualifier Radu Albot in straight sets—6-2, 6-2, 6-4—under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium in just over two hours. His next opponent, Laslo Djere, is a familiar face, having battled through a grueling four-hour match against Jan-Lennard Struff to advance.
Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic acknowledged the difficulty of transitioning back to hard courts after a period on clay and his Olympic success. “It’s always challenging to start a tournament, especially when you haven’t played on this surface for several months and are coming off an Olympic gold,” he explained. “Without any official matches before the US Open, I’m expecting to face tougher challenges in the early rounds.”
Hopefully, I can improve each day,” Djokovic said, reflecting on his US Open journey. “The advantage of Grand Slam tournaments is having a day between matches to train and refine your game. That’s exactly what I need.”
Over the next two weeks in New York, Djokovic has significant milestones within reach. He is not only chasing his 25th Grand Slam title but also aims to secure his fifth US Open crown. Achieving this would tie him with Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer for the most US Open titles by a man in the Open Era.
Additionally, Djokovic is striving to become the first man since Federer to win back-to-back US Open titles. Federer accomplished this feat by winning five consecutive titles from 2004 to 2008.
Djokovic’s first-round victory on Monday added to his impressive record at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he has now secured 78 wins, the most by any man. With this win, Djokovic has also reached 89 US Open match victories, tying him with Federer for the second-most in men’s history.
