NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, August 24, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
A year ago, Novak Djokovic arrived at the US Open after having won the Paris Olympic Games gold medal, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match. It’s something the Serbian great spoke at length about.
“Turned out to be one of the best performances I had in years overall throughout the entire tournament,” Djokovic said during his 2024 pre-US Open news conference. “Of course in the finals against Carlos, it was kind of a dream scenario really having my wife and children there, the entire nation watching.
“Just a very proud moment of experiencing the golden medal, you know, around my neck with Serbian anthem and Serbian flag. Very, very special. Probably the most intense emotions I have ever had on a tennis court.”
It wasn’t meant to be tonight. Well played, @AlexeiPopyrin99. Time for me to relax, regroup and move on. Until next time, NYC. pic.twitter.com/wsh4F9YzEQ
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 31, 2024
Fast forward 12 months, after Djokovic bowed in the third round of the 2024 US Open to hard-hitting Alexei Popyrin of Australia, he arrives at the year’s last major after celebrating his 100th career ATP Tour title at the Geneva Open in May.
Yet, Djokovic still finds himself stuck on 24 career Grand Slam crowns, tied with Margaret Court for most major titles all-time. He’s achieved everything he’s ever wanted to from the sport on the ATP Tour and in Olympics and Davis Cup glory – most weeks at No. 1, an Olympic gold medal and Davis Cup title for Serbia – plus seven year-end ATP Tour Finals titles.
Djokolenka reunited @DjokerNole | @SabalenkaA pic.twitter.com/DjFCakKlWG
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 20, 2025
However, the last major the 38-year-old Serbian won was the 2023 US Open title, defeating 2021 titlist Daniil Medvedev of Russia, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3. He was shut out in the Grand Slams in 2024 and has been a three-time semifinalist in the first three majors this year – losing to Alexander Zverev of Germany in Melbourne and twice to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy, at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. Winning one more major – a 25th – would seemingly elevate Djokovic past his “Big Three” rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to undisputed GOAT (greatest of all time) status.
The World No. 7 Djokovic, who has won the title at Flushing Meadows four previous times (2011, 2015, 2013 and 2023), is seeded seventh and is in Alcaraz’s half – and Taylor Fritz‘s quarter – of the 128-player men’s draw. He drew unseeded and 48th-ranked Learner Tien of the United States as his first-round opponent when the main draw was revealed on Thursday afternoon.
Djokovic (26-9) and Tien (24-20) will be featured during Opening Night at the US Open Sunday evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium at 7 p.m. Eastern (midnight London, 1 a.m. Monday CEST). It will be Djokovic’s first appearance since losing to Sinner, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinal round at the Wimbledon Championships earlier this summer.
“I always really looked up to him,” said Tien, interviewed this week by the US Open website. “I was lucky to grow up in a time where the Big Three were all playing toward their prime. I really appreciate what he’s done for the sport and what he’s achieved.”
Gonna be an electric Sunday evening
Novak Djokovic vs Learner Tien followed by Jessica Pegula vs Mayar Sherif. pic.twitter.com/0o7AJrI1qO
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 22, 2025
Possible opponents after the first round for Djokovic, should he defeat Tien, include: A qualifier (either 143rd-ranked Zachary Svajda of the United States or 156th-ranked Zsombor Piros of Hungary) in the second round, No. 28 seed Alex Michelsen of the United States or unseeded and 86th-ranked Sebastian Korda of the United States in the third round, and No. 11 seed Holger Rune of Denmark or No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe of the United States in the fourth round. A possible quarterfinal challenger is World No. 4 Fritz of the United States and a likely semifinalist is World No. 2 Alcaraz of Spain.
The cutest of interactions
Emerie gets to serve lemonade to her favourite tennis player – none other than @DjokerNole… pic.twitter.com/aUODLEtkR5
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 22, 2025
While Djokovic has been a popular attraction during US Open Fan Week, based upon the high volume of fans flocking to his practice sessions, he also found time this past week to meet New York Yankees great Aaron Judge and throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium Thursday evening.
“Yeah, it was fun,” he said during his 2025 US Open pre-tournament media sit-down. “It was really … I was treated very nicely, and I was very honored to be there. To be honest, I became a fan. You know, I didn’t follow baseball that much, didn’t know what to think of it, to be honest. But since yesterday, I really became a fan.”
Is there anything Nole can’t do @MLB | @Yankees | @usopen
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 22, 2025
It would seem, based on Djokovic’s own indications, that he’s running out of chances to achieve No. 25. He made overtures at both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon regarding his return to those two majors events. Djokovic also skipped US Open tune-ups in both Toronto and Cincinnati earlier this month. Djokovic addressed the subject of his selective approach to tournaments during his pre-tournament news conference on Friday afternoon.
“I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family. And to be honest, you know, I think I earned my right and have the luxury of kind of choosing, picking and choosing where I want to go and what I want to play,” Djokovic said. “To be quite frank with you, I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore. It’s just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the slams, and I have said that before.”
Djokovic added: “It’s just not, anymore, prioritizing the heavy schedule as I used to. I’m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending [points], et cetera. I just don’t think about it anymore.
“For me, it’s really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play? And the Slams are obviously the four main tournaments where I always feel the most motivation. Then, the other tournaments here and there … I don’t actually have any schedule other than Slams, to be honest.”
Back in Black.@DjokerNole | @atptour pic.twitter.com/qDKdb0cObH
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 20, 2025
While the 6-foot-2-inch, 170-pound Djokovic may be somewhat fresher than many others, having not played since Wimbledon, he also doesn’t have the energy level to match-up as well with top-ranked, younger foes. Still, Djokovic often saves his best for when there lots at stake – meaning rising to the occasion of playing at the majors.
“These kind of rivalries that I have with Jannik and Carlos, in particular, of course, along with other guys from the generation before, like, Zverev, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, you know, are the kind of matchups that still bring that joy of competition to me and inspire me to really, on a weekly basis when I’m not competing, push myself to perfect the game and to give myself an ability to be able to run for hours with them on the biggest stage,” Djokovic said during last year’s US Open.
“Of course, you know, there is a big age difference, but, you know, that’s still not, I guess, affecting me in a big way. I feel good about myself, about my game, about where I am and what I have achieved in the last several years, but of course I have to be a bit more selective in my strategy of calendar and how I pick and choose events and where I want to be at my prime and play the best tennis.
“So when it comes to that, it’s Grand Slams and representing my country. That’s what actually motivates me the most. That’s what drives me the most still. Yeah, that’s related to the on-court, I guess, competition-driven motivation.”
I want to congratulate Jannik on a great performance. It’s been very special being back at SW19, sharing the buzz and having my family with me. Thank you Wimbledon, the tournament of dreams . And to the fans, your support means everything. You have my heart. See you soon pic.twitter.com/NPn8G420Sq
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) July 12, 2025
Sunday’s US Open order of play
By the numbers
Should the top two seeds at this year’s US Open, No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, meet in the final, it would be their 15th career meeting with Alcaraz leading 9-5. They’ve met in the final of the past two majors – Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.
“Quotable …”
“Family, of course, is the main [priority] and being there for the important dates – speaking of which, I’m going to miss out, maybe, going to miss out on my daughter’s birthday. It’s the second of September, so if I’m doing well I’m still here.
“But those are the types of things that I really don’t want to be missing anymore. So it’s just on a personal level for me important to be there, to show up, you know, for the people that have been showing up for me all these years playing tennis.”
– Novak Djokovic of Serbia, during his 2025 US Open pre-tournament news conference, on his change in attitude toward playing tennis.
