‘Overconfident’ Norrie Reflects on Missed Opportunity Against Djokovic at US Open

For a fleeting moment on a humid New York night, Cameron Norrie looked like he might finally break his long losing run against Novak Djokovic. A break of serve early in the third set gave him a brief foothold, and for British tennis fans it sparked a glimmer of belief that perhaps this was the night the 30-year-old could finally solve the Djokovic puzzle. But just as quickly as hope appeared, it evaporated. The 24-time Grand Slam champion gathered himself, absorbed the challenge, and responded with the kind of authority that has defined his career.

In the end, Norrie left Arthur Ashe Stadium with another painful statistic: seven meetings, seven defeats. Djokovic, despite battling a nagging lower back issue and needing medical treatment, prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 to reach the US Open fourth round.

Norrie Admits to Being ‘Overconfident’ After Break Against Djokovic

Norrie’s own assessment of the match was as candid as it was telling. Speaking to the BBC afterwards, he admitted: “I started great in the third set but [was] maybe a little overconfident after breaking. He settled into the match after that, competed well, and was just too good in the end.”

It was a frank reflection from a player who has learned the hard way how unforgiving Djokovic can be. Even when the Serb is visibly struggling, as he was with back discomfort throughout the opening stages, the margin for error is razor-thin. Norrie sensed weakness, pushed hard to extend rallies, but ultimately couldn’t sustain the level needed to keep Djokovic under pressure.

What followed was a masterclass in recovery from the 38-year-old. His serve—long considered a weakness in his early career—bailed him out time and again, neutralising Norrie’s return and flipping the rhythm of the match. By the final set, the contest had drifted away from the Brit, leaving him with familiar regrets.

Djokovic Battles Injury But Finds His Best Level Yet

Djokovic’s body language in the first set told its own story. Wincing after long exchanges, stretching out his lower back between points, and twice requesting medical treatment, the Serb looked like a man on the edge. It was his first competitive outing since Wimbledon, and for a moment the doubts swirled: had the seven-week layoff left him vulnerable?

If anything, the discomfort seemed to sharpen his focus. Once Norrie opened the door with loose points in the third and fourth sets, Djokovic stormed through it. With a wry smile afterwards, he explained: “Coming into the match, you want to win in straight sets without any drama – but that’s not possible. My team wants me to suffer on the court so I can spend more minutes there. Looking from that perspective, it is good.”

The suffering, it turned out, was brief. By the final games, Djokovic was moving with freedom, thumping forehands, and dictating the rallies in vintage fashion. Far from a player clinging on, he resembled once again the man chasing a record 25th major title.

Norrie Still Has ‘Plenty to Smile About’

Norrie rues ‘overconfidence’ as chance to beat Djokovic disappears

For Norrie, the loss—while frustrating—was not crushing. Given the backdrop of his season, this US Open run represented progress. Back in March, a miserable first-round exit in Miami and a lingering forearm injury left him teetering on the edge of falling out of the top 100. His career seemed at a crossroads.

A reset with his team changed the mood. They agreed to strip back the intensity, enjoy the grind of tour life again, and let results come naturally. Since then, the improvements have been obvious: a fourth-round showing at Roland Garros, a Wimbledon quarter-final, and now another deep run in New York.

“It has been fun – I wouldn’t change anything in this tournament,” Norrie said. “There is so much to smile about.”

Those words were more than just consolation. They spoke to a player who recognises how far he’s come since the spring, even if Djokovic once again proved an immovable roadblock.

Djokovic’s Serve: The Decisive Factor

If there was one clear difference-maker in the match, it was Djokovic’s serve. Once a liability, it has now become one of his sharpest tools. Against Norrie, he delivered 18 aces—the most he has struck in a US Open contest—and won the lion’s share of easy points behind his first delivery.

“Serving so well makes your life easier,” Djokovic noted afterwards. “It is probably the most important shot in the game. I’m glad how I executed it.”

Norrie, for his part, admitted he “got nowhere near it” in the opening set and a half. For a player who thrives on rhythm and physical exchanges, being shut out so often on return created pressure that he couldn’t withstand for four sets.

What’s Next for Both Men?

For Djokovic, the path toward a record-extending major continues. At 38, every match is now framed by questions about his fitness and longevity, but his ability to reset and find solutions remains unmatched. He is, remarkably, the oldest man to reach the US Open fourth round since Jimmy Connors in 1991, yet he shows no signs of handing over the spotlight.

For Norrie, the search for a breakthrough against the elite goes on. He will leave New York knowing he executed parts of his game plan well, but also that he still has work to do in sustaining pressure against the very best. Still, from the lows of earlier this year to the highs of another competitive Slam run, his trajectory is pointing in the right direction.

And if there was a sense of overconfidence in those fleeting moments of belief, perhaps it is also a sign that Norrie now truly feels he belongs on the biggest stage, even against the greatest of all time.