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Novak Djokovic is already in New York, where he is preparing much earlier for this year's US Open, which begins on August 30, with the primary goal of adapting to the hard court surface of Flushing Meadows as much as possible.
After losing to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of Wimbledon, Novak openly admitted that he is "closer to retirement than ever", which is why his drastically reduced schedule in 2026 is completely subordinated to winning the historic 25th Grand Slam trophy.
The US Open is a tournament where Djokovic holds incredible records in terms of consistency, but at the same time he also experienced some of the heaviest defeats in his career there. He won this tournament four times (2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023), and with his triumph against Daniil Medvedev in 2023, he became the oldest winner in the history of the tournament at 36 years and 111 days.
Novak also holds the record of reaching 14 semifinals, as well as a record number of 10 played finals, which means that he was defeated in title matches six times (2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2021).
At last year's US Open in 2025, Novak reached the semi-finals, where he was convincingly defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in three sets (6-4, 7-6, 6-2) after defeating Fritz and Norrie.
The upcoming tournament is probably Novak's best chance until the end of the year to rewrite the history of the white sport, provided that his body can withstand the efforts of the New York concrete.
Novak on the US Open
In an interview with the media, the Serbian tennis player shared his emotions about this tournament and pointed out that the US Open is one of the most exciting tournaments for him. The veteran has traditionally dominated this tournament, as already pointed out, so it is not surprising why he has such motivation and desire to succeed.
"The US Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. I think it is the most fun; the most exciting of all the Grand Slam tournaments. It is held at the biggest stadium in our sport: Arthur Ashe Stadium. I can’t wait to be there. One of the main reasons why I continue to compete is the energy of the crowd, as well as the recognition and respect I have received, especially in recent years, around the world; it is something I... cannot thank people enough for. It means a lot to me." he said.
It is common knowledge that Djokovic set winning a Grand Slam as one of his biggest goals this season, even though he fell short of such success at least at the first three Grand Slams. The US Open will be the last chance for the Serbian tennis player to try to dominate and win one of the biggest trophies in tennis this year.
Looking at the competition in this tournament, with Jannik Sinner, who traditionally dominates not only at the US Open but also at most tournaments, as well as Carlos Alcaraz, who is coming back from injury, it is really hard to expect that Novak can surprise.
However, knowing his level of play, as well as his motivation when it is most needed, we have no doubt that the Serbian tennis player will give his best. This tournament could be a great experience for him, but the most important thing is that Novak Djokovic doesn't get too tired from match to match, considering that he has confirmed earlier that his body suffers after long marathon matches.
The US Open is a great chance for the Serbian tennis player to try to reach the 25th Grand Slam title.
How has Djokovic performed this season?
Djokovic is playing according to the "hot-cold" principle this season, which is a direct consequence of biology and injuries. His current record in 2026 is 14–5 (73.7% wins), but he still does not have a title win in this calendar year.
At the beginning of the year, he reached the final at the Australian Open (defeating Alcaraz), he experienced an early shock at Roland Garros by being eliminated in the 3rd round by Joao Fonseca, while he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
After his recent Wimbledon semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner, Novak admitted that his body is slower to recover from long matches (like the 5-hour marathon against Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals) and that retirement is "closer than ever."
Experts and analysts point out that the "best-of-five" format (on three won sets) at the Grand Slams is becoming Novak's greatest enemy at this stage of his career. Novak himself admitted that against Sinner and Alcaraz he has significantly better chances in matches with two sets won, while it is extremely difficult for him to match their intensity with three sets won.
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