Novak Djokovic Says He Is Ready for US Open History Bid

Novak Djokovic says he feels as prepared as possible for his latest attempt to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open, where he opens against Argentina’s Mariano Navone on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.

The 39-year-old Serbian arrives as the fourth seed and is set to make his 20th appearance at the tournament. Djokovic last won the US Open in 2023, when his 24th major title drew him level with Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam singles record. Since then, the pursuit of number 25 has remained unfinished, but the veteran said he had used his recent time away from competition to prepare for the demands ahead.

A 20th US Open appearance adds another milestone

Djokovic’s 20th US Open campaign places him alongside a small group of men to have reached that mark. Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Feliciano Lopez are the only other men cited as having made 20 appearances at the event.

“I’m very proud of that,” Djokovic said of the longevity milestone. He explained that a long career had been one of his goals from an early stage, alongside staying healthy long enough to keep competing at Grand Slams over many years.

That longevity is central to the significance of this fortnight. Djokovic is not only trying to move clear of Court on 25 major singles titles; he is also seeking to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title. The current mark belongs to Ken Rosewall, who was 37 when he won the Australian Open in 1972.

Djokovic has had 11 opportunities to break the major-title record since matching Court. During that stretch, he has reached two finals and six other semi-finals. His 2026 season has included a five-set semi-final victory over world number one Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open before a final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz. He then exited Roland Garros in the third round and lost to eventual champion Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Preparation follows a difficult Cincinnati start

Djokovic withdrew from the Montreal Masters and then endured a difficult opening match in Cincinnati, where he said heat and humidity had aggravated physical issues he was managing. Rather than dwell on the early loss, he said the result gave him a valuable window before the US Open.

“I don’t like early losses anywhere, to be honest, but it gave me time to be preparing for US Open in a most adequate way,” Djokovic said. “I had two weeks to really train and get my body and mind into the right state, prepared for what’s coming up.”

He was measured when asked whether that preparation would immediately translate into match performance. Djokovic noted that training is different from taking the court in a best-of-five-set Grand Slam match, particularly under the conditions of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“If you ask me if I’m prepared, I feel like I am, as best I can be,” he said. “But it’s different training and then getting out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing best-of-five.”

Navone presents the first test in New York

Djokovic will be a heavy favourite against the 48th-ranked Navone, but he stressed the importance of negotiating the opening round. He said first matches have been particularly challenging for him in recent years and that his focus is on getting through the first hurdle before building momentum.

The draw has also shifted with Sinner sidelined by a knee injury, while defending champion Alcaraz returns from a four-month injury absence. Djokovic, however, faces an immediate and straightforward task: start his 20th US Open appearance successfully, then continue a campaign that could deliver another landmark in his long major career.