Djokovic’s Historic Achievement at the U.S. Open
In a thrilling match on Friday night, Novak Djokovic overcame early back troubles to secure his place in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, marking a significant milestone as he becomes the oldest man to reach this stage of the tournament at 38 years—an achievement not seen since Jimmy Connors in 1991. Djokovic triumphed over British player Cam Norrie with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3, delivering a standout performance that featured 18 aces, which he described as his finest serving display of the tournament.
Match Highlights and Injury Concerns
Initially, Djokovic’s chances of progressing appeared bleak when he required medical assistance late in the first set after an awkward volley at 5-3. Displaying clear signs of discomfort, he began to stretch his back during the rallies and struggled to chase one of Norrie’s shots. Shortly thereafter, he signaled for a trainer, clutching his lower left back as he headed to the locker room for a medical timeout. However, the Serbian star returned swiftly, overcoming his discomfort to clinch the first set.
While sitting at the changeover during the second set, Djokovic received a massage and medication from a doctor to alleviate his pain. The match marked his third incident this season at a Grand Slam where injuries have impacted his play. Earlier in the year, at the Australian Open, Djokovic sustained a hamstring tear, forcing him to withdraw after one set in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev. At Wimbledon, he experienced a groin issue after a fall in his quarterfinal match, which hindered his performance in a subsequent semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner.
Looking Ahead
Despite these setbacks leading into the U.S. Open, where Djokovic is competing for the first time since Wimbledon, he continues to show resilience on the court. After the match, he remained optimistic, declaring,
“I’m good. I’m as young as ever and as strong as ever.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic is set to face Jan-Lennard Struff, a German qualifier, in his quest for another title.
Record-Breaking Milestone
With this victory, Djokovic has advanced to the third round of a major tournament for the impressive 69th time, tying with fellow tennis legend Roger Federer for the most such appearances in history.
