Novak Djokovic has once again proven why he remains one of tennis’s most formidable forces, as the 38-year-old Serbian star advanced to the fourth round of the 2025 US Open with a hard-fought victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Friday night at Flushing Meadows saw Djokovic, the seventh seed and 24-time Grand Slam champion, overcome not only his opponent but also persistent lower back discomfort to win 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3. With this result, Djokovic not only preserved his flawless head-to-head record against Norrie, now standing at 7-0, but also etched his name into the record books in multiple ways.
Djokovic’s journey to this point in the tournament has been anything but straightforward. In his second-round encounter, he faced American qualifier Zachary Svajda and dropped the first set after committing 14 unforced errors. Despite the rocky start, Djokovic rallied to win the next three sets, capitalizing on Svajda’s physical struggles with cramps. The final tally read 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, marking Djokovic’s 19th appearance in the third round at the US Open—a record he now shares with Roger Federer. “Not that great to be honest,” Djokovic admitted after the Svajda match, reflecting on his early performance. “I was not really happy with my tennis in the first part of the match but also credit to Zach for playing some really high-quality tennis. It was unfortunate that he struggled with injury towards the end of the second, but kudos to him for staying on the court.”
The third-round clash with Norrie was anticipated to be a stern test, and it delivered drama both in terms of tennis and tension. Djokovic started strong, taking the opening set 6-4, but late in the set, he began to feel discomfort in his lower back, prompting a medical timeout. This moment sparked a minor flashpoint, as Norrie questioned the umpire about the frequency of Djokovic’s trainer visits. According to The Tennis Podcast’s David Law, “It was a bit a—- between Norrie and him at that point because Norrie seemed to be asking the umpire, ‘How many times is he allowed to have a trainer out?’ And Djokovic definitely seemed to shoot him a glance as if to say, ‘Stay out of it, mate.’”
Despite the physical setback, Djokovic managed to close out the first set. However, Norrie sensed an opportunity and raised his level, playing more aggressively and taking the second set in a tense tiebreak. “Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with Norrie’s level,” Djokovic remarked in his post-match press conference. “I think he was playing really aggressive. I was not used to him playing so close to the line and taking the ball early particularly on the forehand side. You know, credit to him for fighting and playing some really good level.”
The third set saw an early break for Norrie, but Djokovic, ever the competitor, immediately broke back and proceeded to win five consecutive games, establishing a commanding lead. His serve, a critical weapon throughout the match, proved too much for Norrie, with Djokovic winning 83% of his first-serve points and tying his personal best at the US Open with 18 aces. As the match wore on, Djokovic’s experience and resilience shone through, and he wrapped up the contest in four sets.
This latest triumph holds significant historical weight. With his victory over Norrie, Djokovic became the oldest man in 34 years to reach the fourth round of the US Open, a feat not seen since Jimmy Connors in 1991. More impressively, he surpassed Roger Federer for the most career wins at hard-court Grand Slams, now tallying 192. The two legends are also tied for the most Grand Slam fourth-round appearances in the Open Era, each boasting 69. “I’m as young as ever, as strong as ever,” Djokovic joked on court, though he later admitted, “In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest. Yeah, it’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100% always like I have for 20-plus years.”
Djokovic’s path in New York doesn’t get any easier. His next challenge comes in the form of Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who advanced after a straight-sets win over Frances Tiafoe. The upcoming encounter will mark their eighth meeting on tour, with Djokovic having won all previous seven matches. Struff, reflecting on Djokovic’s longevity and excellence, said in his press conference, “[It’s] just incredible. It’s just fantastic how good he is playing. He shows us all that you can play long tennis and very, very good tennis at his age. It’s just incredible.” Struff recalled their first meeting, not on the tennis court but playing soccer indoors during a rain delay in Halle, a memory that has clearly stuck with him.
Historically, Struff has managed to take only one set from Djokovic in their Grand Slam encounters, that lone success coming at the Australian Open. Their head-to-head record is lopsided, but Struff will be hoping to finally break the streak and notch a memorable upset at Flushing Meadows. For Djokovic, the road ahead is filled with daunting prospects. Should he advance past Struff, he could face fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals, second seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, and the ultra-dominant Jannik Sinner in the final. Each of these opponents represents a formidable obstacle, but if there’s one thing tennis fans have learned, it’s never to count Djokovic out—especially when history is on the line.
Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-breaking 25th major title continues to captivate the tennis world. With his latest victory, he has once again demonstrated his ability to adapt, survive, and ultimately thrive on the sport’s biggest stages. The action at the US Open is far from over, and all eyes will be on Djokovic as he seeks to cement his legacy even further in the coming rounds.
