Tag: Novak Djokovic

Record-shattering Novak Djokovic said he was “hanging in there” after becoming the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.

The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in front of a boisterous crowd on centre court to extend his own all-time record of match wins at the majors.

Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are the next best.

Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, tying Federer for the most Australian Open singles wins.

Djokovic’s reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn, whose match was delayed due to extreme heat.

The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money,” said Djokovic. “I’m still around. I’m hanging in there.

“Obviously, Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing on a different level from all of us right now.

“But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance, particularly here, on the court that has given me the most in my career.”

But after making the semi-finals at all four majors last year and not going further, he stressed that he was “not getting ahead of myself”.

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“Last year I got too excited, too early in some of the Grand Slams,” he said. “I was playing really well and getting to the quarters and semis and then getting injured in pretty much three out of four.”

The 75th-ranked Van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic in three sets at Indian Wells last year, but never looked like pulling off another shock.

The fourth seed wound back the clock with some phenomenal tennis in set one, securing the critical break in the fourth game after a mammoth 26-point rally.

He broke the Dutchman again on his opening serve in the second set and moved to 4-2, but it was a struggle, and he became noticeably more irritable.

At one point, he smacked a ball towards an advertising hoarding out of frustration and nearly hit a ball kid, quickly apologising.

Novak Djokovic had work on his foot during a medical timeout in set three after a tumble.

They exchanged breaks, and the set went to a tiebreak, where he proved the most resilient.

“A few points before, I almost saw the physio, I was planning to see him for my blisters,” he said of the fall where he appeared to turn his ankle.

“Thankfully, I managed a good fall, if you can say that. Things could’ve been really ugly in that moment.”

Djokovic has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023.

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Giantkiller Iva Jovic has credited “kind and attentive” Novak Djokovic for helping her make a splash at the Australian Open, with the 18-year-old taking tips from the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

Jovic, the youngest player in the women’s top 100, stunned seventh seed and two-time Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini on Friday to make the last 16.

It was the biggest scalp of her burgeoning career, and Serbian great Djokovic, who is 20 years her senior, had a hand in it.

“Actually, I spoke to Novak a little bit. So it was pretty incredible,” said Jovic.

“He gave me some very attentive tips for my game and something I can try to incorporate into this match that I just played.

“So that was one of the things at the forefront of my mind because I think when Novak gives you some advice, you follow it.”

Asked what advice he gave her, Jovic replied: “It was just to open up the court a little bit better, to not rush into the shots all the time, find some more width.

“So I tried to do that, and it ended well. So I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak.”

While Jovic is American, her father is from Serbia and her mother from Croatia.

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She is still closely connected to her roots, visiting Serbia annually, both the capital of Belgrade and the southern town of Leskovac, where she has extended family.

It makes the link to Novak Djokovic a natural one, but also one Jovic finds “pretty insane”.

“You always think about those moments where you’re going to meet your idols a little bit, and I think sometimes for certain people it can be a little bit deflating if they are maybe not as nice or as open as you anticipated,” she said.

“But he’s almost even kinder and even more attentive outside the cameras than what he’s portrayed. It was amazing.

“I mean, he’s so intelligent and smart and really wants to help the younger generation. So I’m really grateful to have that advice.

“Hopefully, I’ll speak with him more and listen to his advice. ”

Iva Jovic claimed her maiden title in 2025 at Guadalajara and started the year in sizzling form, making the semi-finals in Auckland and the final at Hobart.

Seeded 29 in Melbourne, she will play Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

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Novak Djokovic embarked on his latest quest to win a record 25th Grand Slam by easing to an ominous straight-sets victory Monday at the Australian Open.

The Serb dismissed Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and meets Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second round.

It was his landmark 100th Australian Open victory.

“Great to be back once again, definitely my favourite court,” the smiling 38-year-old told Rod Laver Arena.

“Centurion is pretty nice. I always give my best on the court, history-making is a great motivation.”

He added: “I am blessed to be still playing at this level.”

The former world number one raced into a 3-0 first-set lead as Serbian fans serenaded their hero.

Djokovic, now ranked four, pulled out of a warm-up event this month saying he was not physically ready.

His last competitive match was in early November as he attempts to limit the wear and tear on his creaking body.

But he showed no signs of discomfort or rustiness in moving freely around the Melbourne Park hard court to seal the first set with minimum fuss.

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He broke the 71st-ranked Martinez’s serve early in the second set and was hardly troubled on his own serve to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set went much the same way, the only moment of concern for Djokovic fans coming when he stretched out his right hamstring in between games.

Djokovic will need to gatecrash the duopoly of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner if he is to break a tie with Margaret Court and win an all-out record 25th major.

Sinner is the two-time defending Australian Open champion, and along with Alcaraz has dominated the majors in the past two years.

Djokovic has been stuck on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023.

He reached the last four in Melbourne a year ago but retired from the match against Alexander Zverev with an injury.

He did make one slice of history on Monday, his 81st Grand Slam equalling the all-time record men’s singles appearances with old rival Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.

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Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has recently suggested the possibility of an early retirement, stirring uncertainty about his ambitious dream of playing until the 2028 Olympic Games.

He shared that the physical toll of elite tennis and recurring injuries may cut his career shorter than planned.

It’s worth noting that Djokovic, who captured an elusive Olympic gold in Paris last year, was forced to withdraw from the ATP Finals in Turin due to an ongoing injury, ending his season prematurely.

Djokovic confirmed his withdrawal through social media, expressing disappointment and gratitude to his supporters.

“I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best, but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury. I’m truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play – your support means so much,” he wrote.

The Serb, who recently claimed the ATP 250 title in Athens after defeating Lorenzo Musetti, reflected on his long-term ambitions but acknowledged the growing uncertainty surrounding his future.

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“Since I’ve achieved almost every goal in tennis, I mentioned the 2028 Olympics because I wanted to play for many more years,” Djokovic said.

“But I don’t know – there are some things beyond my control. I’m trying to stay as healthy as possible, both mentally and physically.”

With most major milestones already behind him, Novak Djokovic is reportedly considering a lighter playing schedule to manage his fitness and extend his time on tour.

Whether the 24-time Grand Slam champion will make it to the 2028 Olympics now remains an open question, one that even Djokovic himself seems unsure about.

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Novak Djokovic said Thursday he was “concerned” about his physical state, but still dispatched Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 to set up a Shanghai Masters semi-final against tournament surprise package Valentin Vacherot.

The 38-year-old Serbian, the highest-ranking player left standing, is getting ever closer to a fifth title in the Chinese financial hub despite struggling throughout the week.

Next in the crosshairs of the 24-time Grand Slam champion is world number 204 Vacherot, a qualifier from Monaco who battled back from a set down to stun Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

“I’m concerned too,” Djokovic said when told his fans were worried about his health, adding there were “issues that I’m trying to address day by day”.

“I don’t want to talk about the details. I’m still in the tournament. So I prefer just focusing on recovery and trying to give it all.”

Djokovic broke in the sixth game after an unforced error from the 44th-ranked Bergs.

But just days after he overcame exhaustion, vomiting, and an injury scare in his last match against Spain’s Jaume Munar, he looked tired and overheated.

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“There’s always something happening with the body, pretty much every match that I play right now,” Djokovic said wryly.

He took a puff from an inhaler during a break in play as his team anxiously looked on, but took the first set.

Djokovic broke for a 5-4 lead in the second set, but Bergs broke back after a series of thrilling rallies that drew screams from the crowd.

The umpire had to ask the spectators for quiet multiple times as fans chanted furiously for Djokovic, waving Serbian flags and signs reading “Novak is the GOAT” (greatest of all time).

When Djokovic broke again for a 6-5 lead, the stadium erupted.

Bergs still would not lie down, saving two match points and creating another break point of his own, but Djokovic finally got over the line when the Belgian went long.

“I’ve been struggling quite a bit with energy levels, and just every opportunity that I get, the crowd feels it… I can hear that noise and that energy drives me,” Djokovic said.

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Novak Djokovic banished exhaustion and played through an ankle injury scare to make it to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday, beating Spain’s Jaume Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

The hard-won victory keeps Djokovic on track as the favourite to take a record-extending fifth title in the Chinese financial hub, with other top seeds already withdrawn or knocked out.

The 38-year-old almost looked unable to continue when the match went to a decider, but he conjured up the energy to break his decade-younger opponent twice in the third set.

“Thank you, thank you everyone, I love you!” he shouted in Chinese to the adoring crowd before leaving court almost immediately after play finished.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion had a good start despite the 84 percent humidity, breaking in the fourth game.

His problems began shortly afterwards when his left ankle slid out behind him as he rushed towards the net, and he had to take a medical timeout.

He grimaced in pain as he was attended to by an on-court physio, but managed to resume to hold the fifth game.

Djokovic received treatment again in the second set, and looked increasingly fatigued, crouching over frequently in between rallies and throwing up on court.

Serbian-flag-waving Chinese fans roared in support, but 41st-ranked Munar ultimately broke in the 12th game of the second set after an unforced error from his opponent.

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An agonised Djokovic dropped to the floor and remained splayed out on court with his chest heaving, as a medic rushed over.

But he picked himself up for an incredible third-set revival, breaking in the first and seventh games and sending the stadium into a frenzy.

Djokovic is now the oldest player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal, and the highest-ranking player left in the competition in Shanghai.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament to rest, and second, third and fourth-ranked Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz have all been eliminated.

The event in Shanghai has been beset by injuries, as players have battled the humidity coupled with temperatures over 30 Celsius.

Sinner was forced to retire on Sunday after being seized with extreme cramps.

World number 11 Holger Rune, who has also struggled with the conditions, called on Tuesday for tennis authorities to bring in a heat policy for events like Shanghai.

The Dane is through to the last eight after he took out France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3.

Djokovic will next face 44th-ranked Zizou Bergs.

The Belgian took Canada’s Gabriel Diallo down to the wire, prevailing in a prolonged third-set tiebreak 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/8).

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Novak Djokovic vowed to “continue fighting” for Grand Slam titles after his US Open semi-final exit to Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.

Djokovic, whose dream of a record 25th Grand Slam title ended in a straight-sets loss to Alcaraz, pledged to keep playing next year.

“I’m not giving up on Grand Slams, I’m going to continue fighting,” the 38-year-old Serbian legend said after his 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 defeat.

“I still want to play a full Grand Slam season next year. They are just different from any other tournament. They are the pillars of our sport.”

Djokovic had warned before Friday’s semi-final that he would need to be in peak physical condition to stand a chance of toppling the 22-year-old Alcaraz.

The Spaniard has dominated men’s tennis alongside Italian world number one Jannik Sinner in recent seasons, with the duo splitting the last seven Grand Slam tournaments between them.

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However, Djokovic said he had faded after running Alcaraz close in the opening two sets in Friday’s semi-final.

“I ran out of gas after the second set,” he said. “I think I had enough energy to battle him and to keep up with his rhythm for two sets.”

“After that I was gassed out, and he kept going,” he added, stating that competing with his much younger rivals in future was only going to get more challenging.

“I’m happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it’s just the physicality of it,” Djokovic said.

“As I said after the quarter-finals, I’m going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as it’s needed, but it wasn’t enough.

“That’s something I, unfortunately, at this point in time in my career, can’t control.

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“I can do only as much as I can do. It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams.

“I think I have a better chance in best-of-three, but best-of-five, it’s tough.”

Novak Djokovic, though, said he had no problem coming off second best to the duo who have collectively become known as “Sincaraz”.

“It’s never fun losing a tennis match, but at the same time, if I’m to lose to someone, I would lose to these two guys,” Djokovic said.

“I know that they are just better at the moment. You just have to hand it to them and say, ‘Well done.'”

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Carlos Alcaraz said he is increasingly learning what it takes to consistently play his best tennis as he dispatched Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to reach a second US Open final.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz advanced to his third consecutive Grand Slam final with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over 24-time major winner Djokovic.

The Spaniard has won 45 of his last 47 matches and made the final at eight straight tournaments, a run starting with his triumph in Monte Carlo in April.

“It’s something that I’m working on, just the consistency on the matches, on the tournaments, on the year in general. Just not having up-and-downs in the match,” said Alcaraz.

“Just the level that I start the match, just wanted to keep that level really high during the whole match.

“I’m thinking I’m doing that in this tournament, which I’m really proud about. I’m just getting mature. I’m just getting to know myself much better, what I need on and off the court.”

The Spaniard is seeking his sixth major and second in New York after winning the title in 2022.

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He will play reigning champion Jannik Sinner or Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in Sunday’s final after avenging a quarter-final loss to Djokovic at the Australian Open.

“Beating Novak is always special. But I don’t feel like I’ve won anything more than a Grand Slam semi-final. It was an important match, but it was just a ticket to the final,” said Alcaraz.

His only loss in his last 37 matches came against Sinner in the Wimbledon final.

“I am performing at a high level and sending a message to the people on the circuit that this is my level,” said Alcaraz.

“It is not something exceptional that has happened in one or two tournaments, but rather it is truly my level.

“It is not my maximum level; I still have room to improve, but it is a high level.”

Djokovic suffered his fourth straight semi-final loss at a Grand Slam and foiled the 38-year-old’s bid to become the oldest major champion.

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“It’s impressive what he has done this year in the Slams,” said Alcaraz.

“I told him he always looks like 25 a 25-year-old physically, so to maintain that level at 38, it’s impressive.”

It is the first time since 2017 that Djokovic has failed to reach a Grand Slam final.

His exit also means it is the first season since 2002 where one of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer has not reached the final of a major.

“I lost three out of four Slams in semis against these guys (Alcaraz and Sinner), so they’re just too good, you know, playing on a really high level,” said Djokovic.

“It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams.

“I think I have a better chance in best-of-three, but best-of-five, it’s tough.”

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Novak Djokovic advanced to a blockbuster US Open showdown with Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday as reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka vaulted into the semi-finals without having to lift her racquet.

Djokovic snuffed out Taylor Fritz’s hopes of becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since 2003 with a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 quarter-final victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

The win sent the 38-year-old Serbian, chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam victory, into a mouthwatering semi-final against Spanish second seed Alcaraz on Friday.

Djokovic clinched victory when fourth seed Fritz double-faulted on match point in the 10th game of the final set and could not hide his relief at finally emerging victorious.

“In this kind of match, a few points on either side decide the winner,” he said. “It was an incredibly close match. It was really anybody’s match.”

Fritz was left ruing his failure to make the most of the opportunities that came his way, converting only two of 13 points during an absorbing three-hour 24-minute battle.

The American fourth seed squandered five break points in the opening set that would have made it 5-4, instead allowing Djokovic to wriggle off the hook and take a one-set lead.

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Then, after battling back to break Djokovic to get to 5-5 in the second, Fritz was broken immediately to surrender the initiative.

Djokovic duly held to take a two-set lead, and while Fritz hit back to take the third set, the veteran Serb regrouped to wrap up victory in the next set.

“I thought I was really lucky to save some crucial break points in the second set,” Djokovic said. “I think for most of the second and third sets he was the better player.”

Novak Djokovic will meet Carlos Alcaraz in the last four, with the 22-year-old Spaniard in blistering form.

The five-time Grand Slam champion needed just one hour and 56 minutes to seal a convincing 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka.

Alcaraz has not dropped a set during a relentless march into the semi-finals and was once again in complete control against Lehecka.

“I just played a really, or almost, perfect match,” said Alcaraz, who has won 35 of his last 36 matches since the start of the Italian Open in May.

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“It seems like, OK, just two more steps to do, and let’s see what happens. But yeah, I’m just feeling great and hungry to make it.”

In the women’s draw on Tuesday, world number one and defending champion Sabalenka moved into the semi-finals after Czech quarter-final opponent Marketa Vondrousova pulled out with a knee injury.

Sabalenka, bidding to become the first woman to successfully defend the US Open since Serena Williams completed a hat-trick of titles in 2014, extended sympathy to Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion.

The walkover sets up a repeat of last year’s US Open final in the last four, with Sabalenka facing American fourth seed Jessica Pegula on Thursday.

Pegula reached the semi-finals earlier on Tuesday after a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova.

Pegula entered the US Open on the back of a dismal run of form that had seen her make early exits at WTA tournaments in Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati.

But she has rediscovered her confidence while moving stealthily through the rounds at New York, albeit against a series of unseeded opponents.

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Novak Djokovic shook off a back problem to beat Britain’s Cam Norrie in four sets on Friday to become the oldest man to reach the US Open last 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991.

The 38-year-old Djokovic defeated Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3, staying in the hunt for an unprecedented 25th major title.

But the Serbian star admitted that whether his body can still withstand the grind of a two-week-long Grand Slam is potentially beyond his control.

“In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who was compromised by injury at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.

“It’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100% always like I have for 20-plus years.

“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.”

Novak Djokovic earned a record 192nd Grand Slam match win on hard courts and also tied Roger Federer’s mark of last-16 appearances at the majors with 69.

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The four-time US Open champion has designs on going much further, though, health permitting.

“If the body doesn’t listen to me when I go deep in the Grand Slam tournaments, as it was kind of the case last few Slams, then that’s a hard one to swallow for me,” said Djokovic.

“I know the amount of hours I’m putting in daily to care for my body, but at the same time, you know, biological age is not something that I guess you can reverse.”

Djokovic has now defeated Norrie in all seven of their meetings and is through to the fourth round in New York for the 16th time.

On Sunday, he will play German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff, who has already knocked out two seeds in Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe.

A lone break of Norrie’s serve in the seventh game was enough for Djokovic to pocket the opening set, but not before he summoned the physio to work on his lower back.

Djokovic headed off court for a medical timeout and returned to serve out the first set.

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“I don’t know when it gets cold tomorrow, I’ll see what the reality is,” said Djokovic of the nature of his injury.

“I was lucky, lucky not to, you know, have that burden stay there. It was just there for a few games, and after that it was fine.”

He had the chance to make further inroads in the second set, but Norrie saved three break points and then pinched the tie-break from his rival, who double-faulted on set point.

Norrie took that momentum into the third set with an early break, drawing an emphatic response from Djokovic as he responded by winning four straight games.

Djokovic soon made the set his, and another break to start the fourth set gave him the cushion required to close out a milestone victory.

“These kinds of matches and performances always give me hope that I can go far, challenge the best players in the world,” said Djokovic.

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