“Novak, if you win this US Open…” “Match by match!” Djokovic responds
“If you were to win this one, would this be the biggest achievement of your career?” was asked Djokovic. The 38-year old legend knows he’s far from there.
Novak Djokovic, US Open 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
“If you were to win this one, would this be the biggest achievement of your career?” Novak Djokovic, the 38-year-old Serbian superstar, was asked this question following his fourth-round victory at the 2025 US Open. He is in pursuit of a record-extending 25th major title. His body is showing the signs of a long and legendary career, with the Serbian superstar requiring multiple medical timeouts during his journey to the quarter-finals. But if there’s one thing he’s learned in the last few years, it’s to take things “one match at a time.” “It could be, but it’s still a very long way,” he added.
In his straight-sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday, Djokovic booked his 14th career US Open quarter-final and a record 64th Grand Slam quarter-final overall. In doing so, he became the oldest man to reach the quarter-finals at all four majors in a single season.
Djokovic – Fritz first
His path to a potential fifth title in New York continues in the quarter-finals against Taylor Fritz, a player he holds a commanding 10-0 head-to-head record against. Despite the statistics, Djokovic isn’t looking beyond the American.
“In the last couple of years, I learned one thing right now is to take really one match at a time. And yes, of course I’m dreaming about winning another slam. And it would be amazing if I do it here. But I just I can’t allow myself to go that far with my thinking, I just need to focus on what needs to be done in the last to win the match. Next match, next challenge. Last Grand Slam I won was here actually two years ago. So it will be a nice nice kind of journey in the last couple of years to to kind of close the circle here again would be great.” Since his win at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has reached a Wimbledon final (2024), and four major semifinals (Melbourne 2024, 2025, Roland-Garros 2025, Wimbledon).
The 24-time Grand Slam champion also made history earlier in the tournament, becoming the oldest man to reach the fourth round since Jimmy Connors in 1991. The comparisons to the American legend were not lost on Djokovic.
Connors memories
“I was very, very, very, very young. So I don’t avidly remember it when it was happening. But I and in the years to come, when I was growing up watching a lot of tennis, everyone was talking about that run being one of the most historic runs we had in sport. On any slam you know, Jimmy Connors being one of the greatest tennis players of all time and greatest legends in general overall globally, but particularly in this tournament. He’s wanted what like five times. And, you know, he’s fired up the New York crowd like no other player has done in his career. So yeah, just being the same discussion or same conversation with Jimmy is obviously a huge honor of mine.”
Connors holds the all-time Open Era record for most professional singles titles, with 109 to his name (Novak Djokovic is currently nine away, with 100). Connors’ iconic 1991 US Open run, where he was a 39-year-old wild card, saw him win five matches, including three night-session marathons against higher-ranked opponents, on his way to a surprise semifinal.
