On Sunday night, Novak Djokovic will embrace another US Open campaign, two decades after his first encounters in New York. The 38-year-old will face the home player, Learnen Tien, in the first round at Arthut Ashe Stadium.
Novak will seek another deep run at Majors in 2025, but his preparation has not been smooth. The veteran has not played in singles since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-final in July.
The 24-time Major winner withdrew from Toronto and Cincinnati, opting to rest and spend time with his family. Djokovic has been training in New York for almost a week, but things are not perfect for the most accomplished player of all time!
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Novak's form remains uncertain, and he experienced a scary moment on the practice court while hitting with Alejandro Tabilo. The veteran required an intervention on his left wrist 15 minutes after they started.
The discomfort forced him to stop practicing for a few minutes. He resumed, but he was not happy with his backhand in the latter stages. Based on the practice footage, Djokovic has yet to find his regular rhythm and movement.
The Serb has been the semi-finalist at all three Major events in 2025. However, he struggled to play at 100% physically, with his body letting him down in the decisive moments.
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Novak is eager to change that in New York and earn a chance to fight for his 25th Major crown if everything goes well in the early rounds. His physical condition and sharpness could be decisive factors as he looks to make a strong start in New York.
Tien is ready to test the ultimate legend on the world's largest tennis stage, especially in front of the partisan crowd. Having already beaten Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev this year, the 19-year-old is hungry for more against the four-time champion.
