Novak Djokovic enters the US Open 2025 with a calculated risk. The Serbian star is chasing his record 25th Grand Slam and has chosen rest over match practice. At 38, he skipped both Toronto and Cincinnati to preserve energy. New York will be his first hard-court test in almost five months.
His only recent outing came in the revamped mixed doubles. Partnering Olga Danilovic, Djokovic crashed out in the opening round after just 43 minutes.
Recent Struggles Raise Questions
Djokovic, a four-time US Open champion, has struggled in recent majors. He lost to Alexei Popyrin in the third round last year. This season, Jannik Sinner stopped him at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Despite setbacks, Djokovic insists he peaks at Grand Slams. “I think, regardless of the fact that I haven’t won a Grand Slam this year, or last year, I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams,” he said after Wimbledon.
Age and Fitness Concerns
The 24-time Grand Slam winner admits his body feels the strain. A hamstring tear forced him out of the Australian Open. Hip and thigh issues limited him at Wimbledon.
“It’s just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest,” Djokovic said.
Still, he believes he can compete when fresh. “It’s tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I’m fresh, when I’m fit, I can still play really good tennis. I’ve proven that this year.”
The Road Ahead in New York
While rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz battled through the heat in Cincinnati, Djokovic opted for recovery. His last hard-court match was the Miami final, where Jakub Mensik defeated him. That was five months ago.
Djokovic begins his 19th US Open campaign aiming to add to titles won in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023. To triumph again, he may need to overcome both Alcaraz and Sinner.
“I don’t know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career. You know, I’m going to keep on keeping on.”
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow SportsNewsTime on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram