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24 Jul 2026 | 08.04
Novak Djokovic will arrive at the US Open 2026 with the possibility of breaking three historical records at Flushing Meadows, two of them without even needing to conquer the title. At 39 years old, the Serb continues to extend an extraordinary longevity and will find in New York new incentives to enhance a trajectory that already holds a significant part of the tennis's great records.
Novak Djokovic has little or nothing left to prove, but his ability to continue subjecting his body to the demands of the highest level continues to provide fascinating chapters. The main goal will be, obviously, to lift that 25th Grand Slam that he has been chasing since his last success in New York in 2023. However, his performance could also allow him to surpass several records held by two American legends: William Larned and Jimmy Connors.
While it is true that the Balkan player has won the New York Grand Slam on four occasions, he has also experienced significant disappointments on these courts, such as the final defeat against Medvedev in 2021, the incident with a line judge in 2020 that led to his disqualification, the retirement due to injury against Wawrinka in 2019, or the surprising loss to Popyrin in 2024. It would be poetically fitting for him to achieve his 25th title on these courts, as well as to reach the other two records he will fervently pursue at Flushing Meadows this year.
1. Becoming the oldest male champion in US Open history
This is the only one of the three records for which there are no shortcuts: Djokovic would have to win the tournament. William Larned remains the oldest male champion in the history of the American championship. He won the 1911 edition at 38 years, 8 months, and 3 days, concluding a career in which he achieved seven titles. Djokovic already holds the Open Era record thanks to his 2023 triumph, achieved at 36 years and three months, but now he could also take possession of the absolute record.
The Serbian turned 39 on May 22nd, so if he were to become the champion in Flushing Meadows, he would break Larned's record. It would be a particularly symbolic achievement because it would mean breaking a record that has been in place for 115 years.
Moreover, the sporting reward would be incomparably greater. Djokovic won his last of 24 majors precisely at the US Open 2023, and since then, he has repeatedly come close to expanding his record. Winning in New York would mean finally achieving the coveted 25th Grand Slam and doing it at an age at which no man has ever managed to lift this trophy.
2. Surpassing Connors as the player with the most victories at the US Open
This record seems much more accessible and does not require reaching the semifinals. Djokovic will arrive in New York with 95 victories at the US Open, while Jimmy Connors holds the male record with 98. The American finished his tournament career with a record of 98-17.
| Player | US Open Wins |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Connors | 98 |
| Novak Djokovic | 95 |
This means that Djokovic needs four more victories to surpass Connors and reach 99. Therefore, he would have to reach the quarterfinals, not just the fourth round: winning R1, R2, R3, and the round of 16 would enable him to become the sole leader. It seems like a perfectly achievable goal considering his exceptional relationship with Flushing Meadows. Djokovic has won there four times, in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023, and has also reached six other finals.
This number would also serve to showcase his longevity. Connors played at the US Open from 1970 to 1992 and made New York one of the fundamental stages of his career. Djokovic being able to now snatch one of his great records is another demonstration of how the Serbian continues to transform historical records in the final stretch of his career.
3. Becoming the player with the most matches played in the US Open history
There is a second Connors statistic that is seriously under threat. The American remains the player who has played the most individual matches in the history of the US Open, counting 115. Djokovic will enter the 2026 edition with 110.
| Player | Matches Played |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Connors | 115 |
| Novak Djokovic | 110 |
Here the mathematics are different because both victories and defeats count. To surpass Connors, Djokovic needs to play six matches during the tournament. That implies reaching the semifinals. If he reaches that round, he will have played his sixth match of the US Open 2026 and will reach 116 matches, regardless of what happens afterwards. It is curious that Connors' two major records could fall without Djokovic needing to win the title.
Three records that perfectly summarize Djokovic's greatness and longevity
The fascinating aspect is that these records belong to two different dimensions of his legacy. To become the oldest champion, he will have to continue demonstrating that, at 39 years old, he still possesses the required level to defeat the best players during seven matches and endure the immense physical demands of a Grand Slam.
The other two records speak of something else: persistence and longevity. Connors built a significant part of his legend through an extraordinary ability to remain competitive for decades, precisely the historical territory that Djokovic is progressively conquering now that the purely triumphal records have been in his possession for some time.
And all this will have as a backdrop the main objective. Djokovic has not won a major since the US Open 2023 and continues to seek a 25th Grand Slam that would further expand his male record. Sinner, Alcaraz, and a new generation have greatly elevated the difficulty of the mission, while his body requires more and more time to recover, something that the Serbian himself acknowledges.
But therein lies much of the magnetism of his participation in the US Open 2026. Novak Djokovic no longer needs to prove anything or chase records to validate his career. He continues to do so because he keeps finding reasons to compete. And New York can offer him three new historical records, two of which are achievable even without lifting the trophy, while pursuing what is probably the great unfinished dream of this final stage of his career: to be a Grand Slam champion again.
Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Los 3 récords históricos que Djokovic puede batir en el US Open 2026
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