Novak Djokovic is two wins away from his 25th Grand Slam title. At 38 years of age, the Serb combines experience and endurance to continue competing at the highest level, although his body already reminds him that he is not immortal.
Between physical discomfort, friction with the public and hard-fought victories, Nole has once again shown why he is a living legend of tennis.
A hard-fought path to the semi-finals
The Serbian has had an irregular but effective run at the US Open. After solidly overcoming Tien (6-1, 7-6, 6-2) and Svajda (6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1), he had to work hard to defeat Cameron Norrie in his best match of the tournament until then (6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3).
He then comfortably defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (6-3, 6-3, 6-2) and in the quarter-finals he fought a tough battle against Taylor Fritz (6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4) in a hostile environment.
Djokovic admitted after beating Norrie that his body no longer responds as it used to, and even asked for medical assistance for back discomfort: “I feel with ups and downs. It’s frustrating not to be able to be 100 per cent like I’ve been for more than 20 years.”
His reduced schedule – his last match before the US Open was in the semi-finals at Wimbledon – is due to the need to pace himself, aware that each tournament can be a physical rollercoaster.
Problems with the stands
New York has never been a particularly favorable territory for the Serb. Against Fritz, in the Arthur Ashe he was not forgiven a single mistake: boos, whistles and constant pressure. Djokovic responded by telling the crowd to shut up and complaining to the referee, which further inflamed the atmosphere. After the victory, he celebrated with a trademark dance, a way of reaffirming himself in the midst of the noise.
In the quarter-finals, Nole had to miss his daughter Tara’s birthday, a reflection of the sacrifices involved in staying at the top. Even so, he remains motivated: he is the oldest player in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of all four majors in the same year.
Most are expecting a duel between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but Djokovic, competitive as ever, issued a warning: “I’m going to try to spoil most people’s plans. I’m not going to go out on court with a white flag.” The stats back him up: he is the only top 10 player with a favourable balance against Alcaraz (5-3). Two matches away from history, the Serb wants to prove that he still has a long way to go.
A history of ups and downs in New York
His first cry of glory in the United States came in 2011, when he beat Nadal in four sets. He won again in 2015 against Roger Federer and in 2018 against Del Potro. His last major in New York, in 2023 against Medvedev, was also his last victory in a Grand Slam.
But his history in the US has not always been a bed of roses. Before establishing himself, he went through bitter days: he lost the 2007 and 2010 finals to Federer and Nadal, respectively
Even after winning his first title at Flushing Meadows, he suffered a blow in 2012 when he lost an epic five-set final to Andy Murray. He missed out again in the final in 2013 against Nadal, in 2016 against Wawrinka and again in 2021 against Medvedev.
In 2017, injuries began to affect his participation in the US Open: he missed the tournament due to elbow problems. In 2019, he arrived with a shoulder injury and had to retire in the fourth round.
Last season, the Serb was surprised by Alexei Popyrin, who caused an upset by eliminating him in the third round. He failed to defend his title and even then it was noticeable how he struggled to find rhythm, after the great wear and tear he was suffering from the Olympic Games. This year, the story is yet to be written.
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