Djokovic Targets US Open Glory at 39 as Serbian Eyes Record 25th Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic is set to make his 20th US Open appearance as he continues his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.

The Serbian is only the fourth man to reach 20 US Open appearances, joining Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Feliciano Lopez on the milestone list.

Djokovic last won the tournament in 2023, when he claimed his 24th Grand Slam title and equalled Margaret Court’s all-time record.

Since then, the Serbian has made 11 attempts to move beyond the 24-title mark. Those efforts have produced two Grand Slam final appearances and six semi-final appearances.

Djokovic said he was proud of his longevity and explained that having a long career and giving himself more opportunities to compete at Grand Slam tournaments had been among his goals since he was younger.

The fourth seed will begin his latest campaign against Mariano Navone of Argentina, who is ranked 48th in the world.

The match is scheduled for Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.

Djokovic said his early Cincinnati exit gave him more time to prepare for the US Open, with the Serbian using the two-week period to train and focus on getting himself physically and mentally ready.

He admitted, however, that practice is different from competing in a best-of-five-set Grand Slam match.

The tournament could present Djokovic with a different challenge this year, with world number one Jannik Sinner ruled out by a knee injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returning after a four-month injury absence.