NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic remains confident that his game still possesses the prowess to chase after an astonishing 25th Grand Slam title.
However, he acknowledges the need for his body to cooperate.
After overcoming an early back issue, Djokovic triumphed over Cam Norrie on Friday night, etching his name in history as the oldest man to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open since Jimmy Connors in 1991 at the same age of 38.
Djokovic secured victory with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3, showcasing his remarkable serve with 18 aces—his best serving performance in this tournament, despite needing treatment for a blister on his toe in the first round and back issues in the third.
“The toll of years is evident on my body, and I’m mindful of it, but I’m fighting against it,” Djokovic remarked. “I’m committed to competing at the highest level against the younger players.”
As a 24-time Grand Slam winner, Djokovic momentarily faced the prospect of an early exit at Flushing Meadows when he required medical assistance close to the end of the first set. However, he rallied to reach the last 16 of a major for a remarkable 69th time, tying Roger Federer for the most ever, and is set to clash with German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff next.
“It’s remarkable how well he’s playing,” Struff commented. “He demonstrates that it’s possible to continue excelling in tennis at his age.”
During a pivotal moment at 5-3 in the first set, Djokovic awkwardly raised his racket for a volley, indicating something was amiss. He began stretching his back between points and seemed hesitant to chase down a shot that Norrie hit into the corner.
Afterward, Djokovic signaled the chair umpire for a trainer and made his way to the locker room for a medical timeout, grasping at his lower left back. He returned to the court promptly and managed to hold serve to clinch the opening set.
During the changeover at 2-1 in the second set, he received a back massage sitting on the sidelines and was given medication by a doctor. Although he lost that set and faced a break in the first game of the third, he turned the match back in his favor.
This marks the third instance this season where Djokovic has battled injuries at a Grand Slam event. In January, he suffered a hamstring tear during the Australian Open and was unable to continue after one set against Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
At Wimbledon, an awkward fall in the last game of his quarterfinal win tweaked his groin muscle. Though he stayed on the schedule, he was visibly affected during a semifinal loss to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
“It genuinely frustrates me that I can’t feel 100 percent like I did for over two decades,” Djokovic lamented. “But I understand that the circumstances have changed, and I need to adapt to the fact that there might be some challenges in every match as I’ve experienced this year in almost every Slam.”
This tournament at the U.S. Open marks Djokovic’s return to action since those events, facing various hurdles in each of his initial three matches.
“My team thinks I need to endure on the court so I can accumulate more match play time,” he joked with a smile.
