Djokovic: "Winning this US Open could be the greatest achievement of my career"

Fernando Murciego | 1 Sep 2025 | 07.55

Novak Djokovic aims for the US Open 2025. Source: Getty

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The legend of Novak Djokovic continues to grow with each tournament he competes in, which is why at 38 years old, he has managed to reach the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slams this season. In this US Open, he is gradually building up to his meeting with Taylor Fritz, one of those opponents he has clearly dominated. Will the American be the final stop on this journey, or can Nole dream of taking another step forward in the draw? Always offering interesting insights during press conferences, the Balkan player leaves us thoughtful reflections, including some memories worth refreshing.

Connors' semifinals at 39 years old

"I remember that tournament, although I was very young at the time, so I don't recall it very clearly. However, in the following years, I started watching much more tennis as I grew older. I remember people talking about that performance as one of the most historic we have had in our sport, in any Grand Slam. Jimmy Connors is one of the greatest of all time, one of the biggest legends globally, especially in this tournament. He has won it five times, captivating the crowd like no other player has. Just being in the same conversation as Jimmy is a great honor for me."

What would you ask Federer and Nadal in private?

"I would ask them many questions, probably starting by asking how they approached their matches against me, what they felt they needed to do to beat me. In what situations were they bothered? How did they train, how did they prepare mentally, a mixture of all those things. I would love to know how their minds worked in those situations, it would be incredible. We'll see if it ever happens."

10-0 record against Fritz

"I expect something different, I always do from players who never managed to beat me; I expect them to come to the court and try to make me feel uncomfortable, by being more aggressive or anything else. I don't think I'll make any major change, obviously, you stick to the game plan that has brought you here, you know what your strengths are. In his case, it's the serve and the forehand, his two big weapons. He has improved his mobility over the years, his backhand is also more solid, very flat. For a big guy, he moves well; I think he is quite underestimated. We played here a few years ago, and it was tough, but this time it will be a night match, completely different conditions… or at least that's what I heard, maybe not (laughs). I would like to play at night; it would be great, I've been playing at night for several rounds already. Whatever happens, I know what I have to do and how to execute my game plan, although many things can affect you on the court. Right now, what gives me encouragement is how I played tonight; it was my best match so far, so I hope to continue like this."

Three steps away from #25 Grand Slam

"It could be the greatest achievement of my career, but it is still far away. In the last two years, I learned to take everything step by step, although I am certainly dreaming of winning another Grand Slam; it would be amazing to do it here. For now, I can't afford to go so far in my thoughts; I need to focus on what I have to do to win my next match, my next challenge. The last Grand Slam I won was here two years ago, so it would be nice to close the circle two years later."

The meaning of the first Grand Slam

"My mentality has changed a lot; when you pursue your first Grand Slam, you have a lot of energy. You have to anticipate, have vision; it's the goal that every player dreams of, every young player starting his career always dreams of winning a Grand Slam. For Taylor, I suppose his dream would be to win here, the tournament of his dreams. For me, it was in 2008, my first Slam; I felt great relief then, to be honest. I was lucky to achieve it quite early. Then you can see a guy like Zverev, who has been in several finals, putting a lot of pressure on himself, also from his surroundings; everyone knows the benefits of winning a Grand Slam… but he hasn't done it yet. The longer that wait lasts, the worse it gets, the weight on your shoulders increases. Taylor is one of the guys with the potential to be a Grand Slam winner; he played the final here last year, he was just a match away, so there's no reason not to believe he can do it. I hope it's not this year, but any other year will be fine."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic: “Ganar este US Open podría ser el mayor logro de mi carrera”