Djokovic ‘didn’t feel great’ but fights back to advance at US Open

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

Novak Djokovic battled back from a set down to defeat Zachary Svajda, a qualifier for the US Open, in the third round. He later acknowledged that he “did not feel that great” about his tennis.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion won 6-3, 6-3, and 6-1 in the end, but the 24-time champion initially appeared restrained in the opening period.

The Serb would break the previous record for the most Grand Slam singles titles with a 25th major trophy.

Roger Federer’s total, which he added, is one more than Roger Federer’s, who has already set a new record in New York by reaching the third round of a major.

Djokovic, 38, said, “I didn’t feel that great.

Djokovic hadn’t played since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals in the first round of the tournament in early July.

Djokovic said, “I hope the more I improve my game the further I advance in the tournament.”

For me, body-wise, it’s obviously a little different in the last couple of years.

I have to deal with wear and tear more frequently than I ever did, and also a lot of recovery work to ensure that I can perform at the highest level.

Djokovic appeared out-of-sorts in the bright sunshine when he was playing in the morning session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was an unfamiliar time for a player who had previously planned to headline the tournament’s coveted night session.

The seventh seed appeared worn out in his first-round contest and appeared to be struggling with issues that came with home hope Svajda.

The world number 145, who posted a video of his excitement against Djokovic, immediately went viral before the match, but he never showed signs of emotion, holding his nerve to edge the first set.

However, Djokovic responded right away as he frequently does, winning 11 of his final 12 games with cramp.

After the Swiss qualifier defeated USA’s 30th seed Brandon Nakashima in a marathon that lasted 40 minutes, fourth seed Fritz will now face Jerome Kym, who is the highest-ranked American in the men’s singles draw.

Casper Ruud, the second-highest men’s seed, lost to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in five sets, moving up to the second-highest men’s seed.

World No. 107 Collignon defeated the 2022 US Open runner-up 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in his first Grand Slam main draw.

Norwegian Ruud, who also lost in the second round of the Australian and French Open and missed Wimbledon with a knee injury, has had a miserable year of Grand Slam results.

Collignon now faces 20th seed Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in a straight sets.

In the end, Tomas Machac, the 21st seed, defeated Joao Fonseca, a rising Brazilian player, 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3.

Fonseca, 19, had a set point in the opener, but Machac held his own against the odds.