WHAT HAPPENED: Novak Djokovic overcame a troublesome back and a game opponent to grind his way into the fourth round of the 2025 US Open.
After losing the second set and falling behind an early break in the third, Djokovic wrestled control of the match to run out a 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 winner—a victory built on exceptional serving Friday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Serb fired 18 aces, equaling his highest tally in a US Open match, and won 83% of his first-serve points (55/66), facing just one break point on the evening.
“It makes your life easier obviously, on the court, when you’re serving big,” Djokovic said post-match. “Overall it was probably the best serving performance of the tournament.
“So of course I’m glad for that. It’s probably one of the most, if not the most, important shots in the game.”
The result sets up a fourth-round clash with qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff, who earlier on Friday stunned Frances Tiafoe in straight sets.
And it sees Djokovic become the oldest player to reach Round 4 at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors, who achieved the feat in 1991 just days before his 39th birthday.
Djokovic set the tone on serve from the very beginning, not dropping a point in his first three service games.
The seventh game was thrilling, with Djokovic chasing down a drop shot and firing a backhand winner to bring up break point, which Norrie saved by crushing an inside-out forehand winner. Djokovic eventually broke with an overhead winner to end an excellent point, celebrating enthusiastically as the crowd roared.
The Serb dropped his first point on serve in the eight game, but fired aces seven, eight and nine on successive points to hold for 5-3.
It was in the next game Djokovic tweaked his back, and at the changeover after Norrie held for 4-5, Djokovic departed the court for a medical timeout.
He held serve when he returned, but when the second set got underway Djokovic looked less sharp, struggling at times with his movement—particularly when running out wide to his forehand.
Norrie, one of the game’s grittiest competitors, sensed his opportunity. He made points physical while ramping up his aggression, striking more than twice as many winners (15) in the second set compared to the first.
In the ensuing tiebreak he reeled off five consecutive points from 3-1 down, and with Djokovic’s frustration bubbling over, the seventh seed double faulted to hand Norrie the set.
Norrie then broke Djokovic in the opening game of the third—only for the tide to turn again. Djokovic settled, playing with increasing clarity and urgency, and Norrie could not go with him.
The 24-time Slam champion broke Norrie three times to take the third set, and attained a stratospheric level on serve again in the fourth, losing just two first-serve points and firing four more aces, while committing only four unforced errors.
Djokovic closed out the match in under three hours, winning 12 of the last 16 games.
WHAT IT MEANS: Djokovic’s champion qualities continue to shine through as the 38-year-old progresses to the last 16 in New York for the 16th time in his past 17 visits.
He has struggled at times throughout this campaign, which began against Learner Tien—his first competitive outing since Wimbledon six weeks earlier—and saw him look physically sapped throughout the second set in Round 1.
In his next match, a four-set win over Zachary Svajda, he appeared at times so despondent with his form it prompted a member of the press pack to comment: “We’re worried about you.”
“I don't enjoy not playing well,” he explained.
And on Friday night against Norrie, he required a medical timeout late in the first set to treat a back strain, which hampered his movement in the second set before painkillers and competitive adrenaline kicked in.
Nevertheless, he continues to prevail, and progress, keeping alive his quest for more tennis history—including an all-time record 25th Grand Slam singles title.
“You really want to win in straight sets without any drama, just kind of ease through. But that’s not possible,” Djokovic explained. “I'm still trying to find my groove and my rhythm on the court. I think today I played probably the best that I’ve played so far in the tournament.
“It’s New York, you know. Even if you’re feeling something, body wise, the energy that you feel in this court just overrides it.”
MATCH POINT: Djokovic improves to 7-0 against Norrie in their head-to-head series, and is now three-quarters of the way to a Grand Slam box set of match victories over the Brit.
Prior to his win in Ashe tonight, Djokovic beat Norrie in the fourth round at Roland Garros in June, and also in the 2022 Wimbledon semifinals.
They are yet to meet at the Australian Open.
