Novak Djokovic stepped onto the courts at the 2025 US Open chasing history, with his wife Jelena watching every moment. Right after finishing his second-round match, Djokovic found himself pushing for a fifth title in New York and rewriting another chapter in his Grand Slam story.
Fans everywhere know the pressure is real. The big question now: how far can Djokovic go, and what does his record-breaking run mean to the people closest to him?
How Did Novak Djokovic’s Record at the US Open Spark Jelena’s Reaction?
This year, Djokovic is determined to capture his fifth trophy in New York and earn his 25th overall Grand Slam title. The 24-time Grand Slam champion started his campaign by entering the mixed doubles event with Olga Danilović. Together, they secured a wild card entry and played their first match against Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva, losing 4-2, 5-3 in the opening round.
Moving to singles, Djokovic, seeded seventh at the 2025 US Open, opened strong by taking down Learner Tien, winning 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2. He went on to face qualifier Zachary Svajda in the next round and came out on top, finishing 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
With the win over Svajda, Djokovic advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the 75th time, breaking Roger Federer’s previous record of 74.
Jelena Djokovic didn’t let this moment pass by quietly. She took to social media to celebrate her husband’s accomplishment. Jelena also pointed out the fact that the Serb has never lost before the third round at Flushing Meadows.
During his post-match press conference, Djokovic opened up about the pressure that comes with his legacy. There’s always something on the line every time he walks onto the court, even after all he’s achieved.
“There is always something to prove once you step out on the court, which is that you are still able to win a tennis match. What I’ve been through and what I’ve achieved in the many years I’ve played on the tour, one can always think that there’s nothing more to achieve or prove because you’ve done it all,” Djokovic said.
He shared that his passion for “competition” and the rush of each match keep him pushing ahead.
“It’s really about trying to make the most of that day and win a tennis match, finding a way to win. So that’s what I’ve done today. I mean, I’m not pleased with my level of tennis, but you have days like this where you’re not playing at your best, but you just find a way. I still love the feeling of competition, the drive I feel on the court,” he continued.
Djokovic also explained that he is often tough on himself regarding his performance. He mentioned that staying hungry to compete with younger players is one of the big reasons he keeps pushing for more.
“I get really hard on myself a lot of the time because I expect myself to always play at the highest level, which is not always possible, but I still have the desire to compete with the young guys; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here playing,” Djokovic added.
Who Will Djokovic Face Next at the 2025 US Open?
After his victory over Svajda, Djokovic set up a third-round showdown against Cameron Norrie.
Norrie reached the second round after Sebastian Korda retired from their first-round match due to injury, scoring at 7-5, 6-4, 0-0 (ret.). Norrie then secured his place in the third round by defeating Francisco Comesaña 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-7(0), 7-6(4) in their second-round meeting.
Looking ahead to their upcoming clash, Djokovic and Norrie have faced off six times on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic winning all previous meetings. They last played in the fourth round of the 2025 French Open, where the Serb won with a score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
Whoever wins this third-round match at Flushing Meadows will face either seventeenth seed Frances Tiafoe or qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round.