Novak Djokovic is no stranger to adversity, but on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 38-year-old Serbian legend added another chapter to his storied career at the US Open. Facing Cameron Norrie in a third-round clash, Djokovic overcame a troublesome lower back to secure a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 victory, making him the oldest man to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors achieved the feat in 1991.
The match was anything but straightforward for Djokovic. Early in the first set, after breaking Norrie in the seventh game and blasting four aces to take a 5-3 lead, Djokovic grimaced, clutching at his lower back after a particularly awkward volley. The crowd held its breath as the four-time US Open champion called for a medical timeout, disappearing into the locker room for treatment just before serving for the set. Yet, in classic Djokovic fashion, he returned moments later, held serve to take the opening set 6-4, and immediately signaled to fans that he wasn’t going anywhere—at least not without a fight.
“Yeah, it's all right,” Djokovic said with a coy smile during his on-court interview when asked about his back. “You have some ups and downs… You don't want to reveal too much to the rivals listening and watching this interview. I'm good, man. I'm as young as ever, as strong as ever. Yes. It's New York. Even if you're feeling something body-wise, the energy that you're feeling in this court just overrides it.”
Despite the bravado, the reality for Djokovic is that his body has been tested more than ever this season. He needed treatment for a blister on his big toe in the first round and was visibly hampered by his back throughout this match. During the second set, he received another back massage and medication during a changeover. The physical woes are nothing new—at the Australian Open in January, Djokovic tore a hamstring and was forced to retire during the semifinals. At Wimbledon in July, a groin tweak in the quarterfinals left him compromised in a semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner. “It’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100 percent always like I have for 20-plus years,” Djokovic admitted in his post-match press conference. “But yeah, I guess the circumstances are quite different and I have to get used to the fact that every match there’s something that might happen as it has been the case this year pretty much every slam.”
Yet, if there’s one thing that defines Djokovic, it’s his resilience. He powered through the discomfort, hitting a personal-best 18 aces for the tournament—“Overall, it was probably the best serving performance of the tournament,” he said. “Of course, I'm glad for that. It's probably one of the most, if not, the most important shot in the game. So I'm glad how I executed that shot.” Djokovic’s 51 winners on the night were a testament to his aggressive intent, but Norrie was hardly a pushover. The Brit hammered 44 winners of his own, including a blistering 27 on the forehand side, keeping the contest competitive and the crowd engaged deep into the New York night.
The second set saw Djokovic’s level dip, with five double faults and a tiebreak loss to Norrie, but the Serbian regrouped, finding his groove in the third and fourth sets to close out the match in just under three hours. “In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest,” Djokovic reflected. “I still feel like I enjoy myself competing, can be very hard on myself and my team, I know that, but I still feel like I have game left in me, you know, to play at the highest level. I want to keep pushing myself to see, you know, whether I can have a shot at another slam or, you know, any big tournaments.”
With this win, Djokovic matched Roger Federer’s record for most appearances in the last 16 of a major—69 times. He also surpassed Federer for the most hardcourt victories at Grand Slam events with his 192nd win, underscoring his enduring dominance on the sport’s biggest stages. And the journey isn’t over yet. Djokovic’s next challenge comes in the form of German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff, who upset 2024 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe in straight sets earlier in the day. Struff, brimming with confidence after also dispatching No. 11 seed Holger Rune in a five-set thriller, acknowledged the magnitude of the moment: “It’s just fantastic how good he’s playing,” Struff said of Djokovic. “He shows us all that you can play long tennis and very, very good tennis at his age.”
This US Open has been a battleground for the veterans and the rising stars. While Djokovic marches on, the younger generation has faced its own heartbreak. American Ben Shelton, the Canadian Open champion, withdrew in tears mid-match against Adrian Mannarino due to a severe shoulder injury he called the “worst pain” of his life. Fellow American Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed, fell in straight sets to Struff, leaving Taylor Fritz as the lone American man standing after a gritty four-set victory over Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym. Fritz, who has needed four sets in consecutive matches, will look to reach his third straight US Open quarterfinal.
On the women’s side, upsets and drama have been just as plentiful. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka avenged her 2021 semifinal loss to Leylah Fernandez with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win, declaring, “I really wanted this revenge. I’m very happy with the win.” Meanwhile, 2021 champion Emma Raducanu bowed out to Elena Rybakina in straight sets, and Jessica Pegula, the fourth seed, advanced with a hard-fought victory over Victoria Azarenka. The last 16 also features former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova and unseeded American Taylor Townsend, who stunned fifth seed Mirra Andreeva.
As for Djokovic, the quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title continues. “My team wants me to suffer on the court so I can get more minutes of match play,” Djokovic joked, flashing the competitive fire that has defined his career. With his experience and relentless drive, he’s not just fighting for history—he’s showing the world that age is, indeed, just a number.
As the tournament heads into its second week, all eyes will be on Djokovic and whether his body can keep pace with his ambitions. For now, the Serbian superstar remains very much in the hunt, defying time and expectation with every step on the New York hardcourts.
