Aging Djokovic out to turn back time in push for U.S. Open glory
After semi-final runs at all three Grand Slams this season, 38-year-old Novak Djokovic arrives at the U.S. Open chasing history while confronting the limits of an aging body.
The Serbian great remains in pursuit of an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, but comes to Flushing Meadows without a single competitive singles match since his Wimbledon semi-final loss to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Skipping hard-court tune-ups in Toronto and Cincinnati, Djokovic has placed all his chips on New York in what many see as his last realistic shot at Grand Slam glory.
After his straight-sets Wimbledon loss to Sinner, he admitted reality is "hitting him like never before" and that closing the gap to today's best gets harder each season.
"It's just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now," said Djokovic, whose only titles over the past 18 months have been Olympic gold in Paris and an ATP 250 in Geneva in May.
"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with a tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that. It's one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it."
Djokovic is not only chasing a 25th major but also seeking to become the oldest Grand Slam singles champion. Two years removed from his last major triumph at the 2023 U.S. Open, the seventh seed knows time is running out on his era.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane
Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying schoolmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE
Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible'
Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study
Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector
Singapore COE premiums up in all categories except motorcycles; Cat A price climbs 2.5% to $104,524
Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children
Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch
What makes this quest all the more compelling is the opposition, with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz emerging as the standard-bearers of a new generation.
Between them, they have claimed every major since Djokovic's last triumph at Flushing Meadows, with the Serb striving to keep his place among the game's dominant forces.
Whether it proves a breakthrough or a last dance for Djokovic, the spotlight remains on him, with history waiting to be claimed, if his body allows it. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
a few seconds ago
- Straits Times
Gauff splits with coach Daly ahead of U.S. Open
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Aug 14, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Coco Gauff (USA) awaits the serve from Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images/ File Photo Two-times Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff has parted ways with coach Matthew Daly just days before the start of the U.S. Open, ESPN reported on Wednesday. World number three Gauff will continue to work with longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel and has also brought biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan. She was seen training on Wednesday at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York with both Faurel and MacMillan, who previously worked with world number one Aryna Sabalenka, helping her with her serve and forehand. Gauff's own serve has been under scrutiny. She committed 42 double faults in just three matches at the Canadian Open earlier this month, part of a season-long pattern that has seen her rack up a tour-leading 320. Under Daly and Faurel, Gauff enjoyed some of the best results of her career, including winning the WTA 1000 China Open, the WTA Finals, and this year's French Open. However, her recent form has dipped, with just four singles wins since Roland Garros and a first-round exit at Wimbledon. The U.S. Open main draw begins Sunday, with 2023 champion Gauff set to appear in a Thursday night exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium. REUTERS
Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Jamaica's Oblique Seville storms past Noah Lyles for Lausanne 100m win
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Jamaica's Oblique Seville (left) and Noah Lyles of the US shaking hands after the 100m in Lausanne, on Aug 20. LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Jamaica's Oblique Seville trumped Olympic champion Noah Lyles in the 100m at the Diamond League meet in Lausanne on Aug 20, just three weeks away from the world championships in Tokyo. Once again, Lyles stuttered out of the blocks, a slow start handing Seville the advantage from the start, something the Jamaican then never looked in danger of ceding. Seville clocked an impressive 9.87 seconds in torrential rain at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lyles battling back in a strong finish to snatch second in 10.02sec. 'Running 9.87 in those conditions shows I can go much faster, anywhere in the world, that's a good time,' said Seville, who won a world bronze as part of the Jamaican 4x100m relay squad in Budapest in 2023. It was a repeat of July's London Diamond League when the 24-year-old Seville also got the better of the American. 'I've beaten the Olympic champion twice, in London and here, and that gives me a lot of confidence heading into the championships. It's been a while since a Jamaican man has won the 100m at a global championship, and of course, I believe I can be the one to do it.' Lyles was left to rue a 'horrible reaction to the gun. That was the only thing wrong.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible' Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch 'Technically I felt good, my warm-up was good, but once you miss the start at this level the race is basically over,' he said. 'Physically, I feel great, and I am confident every race will get better and better. The goal is to sharpen the details, especially my drive phase and my start, heading to Tokyo and the world championships.' Hoey to the fore Kenya's Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi also suffered a setback as American Josh Hoey claimed victory in the 800m. Hoey, the reigning world indoor champion, held his own down the home straight for victory in 1:42.82. 'I wanted to get out hard, let the leaders take the rain, and then make my move with 100 to go,' said Hoey. 'It felt like being a kid again, playing in the rain. I've never raced in anything like this before. It reminded me of cross-country growing up, where it comes down to being the toughest and the most patient.' Josh Hoey of the US crosses the finish line to win the men's 800m. PHOTO: AFP Wanyonyi looked out of it with 200m to run, but battled back for second in 1:43.29 ahead of Spain's Mohamed Attaoui and Briton Max Burgin, with Canadian world champion Marco Arop in fifth. But there was no such drama for Britain's Olympic women's 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, who continued her comeback with a meet record over the two-lap discipline in 1:55.69 ahead of Switzerland's Audrey Werro. 'When the pace goes like that, you just forget about everyone else,' said Hodgkinson, who returned to the track last week in Silesia after 12 months out with hamstring problems since winning at the Paris Games. 'And it paid off with a solid performance. I couldn't have asked for a better start this season.' Britain's Keely Hodgkinson crosses the finish line to win the women's 800m event. PHOTO: AFP Cordell Tinch continued his fine season form by clocking an impressive 12.98sec in the men's 110m hurdles. 'I felt great through the warm-up, this is my kind of weather! This result feels great,' said Tinch. AFP
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Donald welcomes happy headache as Ryder Cup crunch time looms
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox May 16, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Luke Donald hits his second shot on the second hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images/File Photo LONDON - European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is happy to have a good headache as decision-day looms to finalise his team ahead of the clash with the United States in New York next month. One of the six automatic places is still up for grabs ahead of this weekend's British Masters at The Belfry but Ireland's Shane Lowry, who occupies sixth place in the rankings, is not playing, opening the door for Rasmus Hojgaard. Finishing in a two-way tie for 29th, or better, will mean Denmark's Hojgaard will join already-qualified Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton in Donald's team. Beyond the automatic places, Donald will have six captain's picks, and he will be keeping a keen eye on several candidates at the Belfry, the PGA Tour Championship, which is also this week, and at next week's European Masters in Switzerland. "Every Ryder Cup, there is always a push by some people who have a good opportunity to claim a place," Donald, whose team beat the United States in Rome two years ago, said. "It is a little bit of a headache for me, but a good headache. The more options we have for those picks the better." Donald announces his six picks on September 1 and faces a tough dilemma with the likes of Spain's Jon Rahm, England's Matt Fitzpatrick, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and Austria's Sepp Straka, all requiring the nod from the captain. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible' Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch English trio Aaron Rai, Marco Penge and Harry Hall are also on Donald's radar. Penge, who won the Danish Open last week, and Rai will both be in action at the Belfry while Hall will seek to impress from afar at the Tour Championship. While Donald says the team bond that was evident at the Marco Simone Club two years ago was vital, he is not discounting shaking it up with some rookies. "Having some continuity is good but also having fresh blood, having rookies, that could be good, too. It's not cut and dry," Donald said. "But certainly from a continuity standpoint, they understand how I work. I understand them quite well. "Those are all positives for sure." The Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, starting on September 26 with the United States aiming to reclaim the trophy after a 16 1/2 - 11 1/2 loss in Italy. REUTERS
