Djokovic Aims for Grand Slam Record at US Open

Novak Djokovic, buoyed by his emotional victory at the Olympic Games, is aiming to break new records at the US Open starting Monday, as his main competitor, Jannik Sinner, faces scrutiny due to two positive drug tests. Djokovic, the defending champion, has a chance to become the oldest champion in the Open era at the tournament, potentially winning his fifth title, which would tie him with legends Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer.

If Djokovic claims the title, he would also achieve 25 Grand Slam victories, surpassing the 24 he currently shares with Margaret Court. This year’s US Open is crucial for Djokovic, who has faced stiff competition from rising stars.

Earlier this year, Djokovic was dethroned as Australian Open champion by Sinner, who also took the world number one ranking from him. Carlos Alcaraz claimed Djokovic’s French Open title and later defeated him decisively in the Wimbledon final. However, Djokovic made a stunning comeback on the clay courts of Roland Garros, defeating Alcaraz in the Olympic final.

Djokovic’s tearful victory in Paris marked him as only the fifth player to complete a career Golden Slam, winning all four majors and Olympic gold. This victory also quieted critics who doubted Djokovic’s relevance in an era increasingly dominated by younger players like 23-year-old Sinner and 21-year-old Alcaraz.

After undergoing knee surgery in June, Djokovic described his Olympic victory as his “biggest sporting success,” marking the 99th title of his career.

“At the age of 37, to defeat a 21-year-old who is arguably the best player in the world right now, after winning back-to-back titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, this is probably the biggest sporting success I’ve ever had,” Djokovic stated.

Sinner arrives at the US Open fresh off his Cincinnati Masters title, though this achievement was overshadowed by news that he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after testing positive for a banned substance twice earlier in the season.

Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited anabolic agent, but avoided a lengthy ban after officials accepted that the substance entered his system due to contamination from a support team member. “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner said.

However, the decision to allow Sinner to continue playing was criticized as “ridiculous” by Australian player Nick Kyrgios. Meanwhile, Alcaraz, who won his first major at the US Open in 2022, was emotionally shaken by his defeat to Djokovic in the Olympic final.

Alcaraz broke down in tears on the court and later admitted feeling that he had “let Spain down.” His preparation for the US Open suffered another setback with a second-round loss in Cincinnati to Gael Monfils, during which the usually composed Alcaraz smashed his racquet in frustration.

Alcaraz described the match as the “worst” of his career. On the women’s side, defending US Open champion Coco Gauff has experienced a troubling decline in form, with a third-round exit at the Olympics followed by early defeats in Toronto and Cincinnati. No woman has successfully defended the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.

Iga Swiatek, the world number one and 2022 US Open champion, reached the semifinals in Cincinnati before being defeated by Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, was the runner-up to Gauff at last year’s US Open, losing the final after winning the first set.