Novak Djokovic has added fire as the 2023 U.S. Open approaches, not because he missed the 2022 Open, but because he’s a year closer to the end and knows any major tournament could be his finale.
At 36 years old, Djokovic will begin play at Flushing Meadows looking for a record-tying Grand Slam 24th title.
Before he rides off into history, he said he’s planning to rewrite a little more of it.
“Grand Slams are the biggest goals that I have in my career,” Djokovic said Friday during the Open’s media day. “I don’t know how many more slams I’ll have. I’ll still keep going. I don’t have an end in my mind.
“I also understand things are different when you’re 36, so I have to be more appreciative, a bit more present, treating every Grand Slam as maybe your last one in terms of commitment and performance. I see … every Grand Slam that I play now as really a golden opportunity to make more history. Of course, there’s a big significance to that.”
Djokovic’s loss to Daniil Medvedev in the 2021 U.S. Open final left him one win shy of a calendar Grand Slam, winning all four major titles in the same year.
His refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19 kept him from playing in Flushing last year.
“There was no anger,” Djokovic said. “It was last year during the Open that I felt it’s a pity that I’m not there. I felt sad for not being able to participate. But this year is this year. I don’t think about what happened in the last year or last couple of years, just focusing my attention to this year’s tournament.”
And on furthering his credentials as the best ever.
Djokovic, who will open versus Alexandre Muller on Monday, has shown no signs of slowing down.
He can add to his claim as the GOAT of men’s tennis, and he fittingly hung out Thursday night with Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player of all-time.
Serena Williams retired last year with 23 major titles, one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time mark.
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Roger Federer retired having won 20 slams, and Rafa Nadal, who has been injured since January, is sitting on 22.
Djokovic has the opportunity to put the men’s standard out of reach.
Carlos Alcaraz won the 2022 U.S. Open, and he took a five-set classic from Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last month.
The young Spaniard will try to defend his crown in Flushing Meadows as the top seed and World No. 1.
But after Djokovic grinded out a 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) reversal over Alcaraz last week in Cincinnati, he’s proving he’s not ready to pass the torch yet.
“At 36, still have the drive. I love competition,” Djokovic said. “The more you find yourself in those circumstances where you’re experiencing adversity on the court, where things are not moving the right way for you in terms of the performance of that day in terms of tennis, or mentally you’re not feeling your best, that’s the best possible opportunity for you to grow mentally from that, to learn something.
“Normally in the face of adversity is where you learn the most. So that’s my mentality in these kind of matches, really trying to not accept defeat as an option.”
Djokovic is the betting favorite despite being the No. 2 seed. Alcaraz, just 20, is the second-favorite, while Medvedev is a very distant third.
“[Djokovic is] still probably the greatest of all time,” Medvedev said. “It’s great that I can give him hard time. … Two years ago I managed to play definitely one of, if not the best, match of my life. I want to try to do it again.”
Alcaraz agreed.
“Obviously he’s one of the greatest of all time from our sport, no doubts about it,” he said. “Everything he does in the game is unbelievable. He never gives up. … [It can seem] that he’s down and he’s going to lose, and he always gives the chance to himself to keep playing and be able to win. That’s the most important thing he has, and I try to take in my own game.”
