Novak Djokovic has played just two matches since his Wimbledon semi-final loss

Djokovic Battles Through to US Open Third Round Despite Struggles

Novak Djokovic had to dig deep to overcome American qualifier Zachary Svajda in four sets, advancing to the third round of the US Open 2025 despite admitting he was “not feeling great” physically or mentally on court.

The 38-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, dropped the opening set in a tie-break but found his rhythm to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I didn’t feel that great, to be honest,” Djokovic said post-match. “I wasn’t happy with my tennis for the first part of the match, but also credit to Zach for playing some really high-quality tennis.”

Slow Start, Strong Finish

Djokovic looked noticeably flat under the bright midday sun — a stark contrast to his usual night-session dominance in New York. Svajda, ranked 145th in the world, played fearlessly and deservedly took the first set, much to the delight of the local crowd.

But Djokovic responded in classic fashion, raising his intensity and precision. As Svajda began to cramp in the final stages, Djokovic closed out the match by winning 11 of the last 12 games.

With this win, Djokovic has now reached the third round of a major for a record 75th time, surpassing Roger Federer’s all-time tally.

Physical Concerns for Djokovic

Since his semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, Djokovic had not played a competitive match until this tournament. He looked fatigued in his opener and acknowledged post-match that recovery is tougher at this stage of his career.

“It’s obviously a little different in the past couple of years for me body-wise. I get wear and tear quicker than I ever used to, so I have to deal with that.”

Still, Djokovic believes that the deeper he goes in the tournament, the better his form and confidence will become.

Other US Open Highlights

Fritz Rallies, Ruud Crashes Out

Last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz also endured an early scare, coming from a set down to beat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4. The top-ranked American now faces Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym, who stunned Brandon Nakashima in a 4-hour, 20-minute thriller.

Meanwhile, 12th seed Casper Ruud became the second-highest men’s seed to exit early, losing in five sets to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon. It caps a disappointing Grand Slam year for the Norwegian, who also crashed out early in Melbourne and Paris, and missed Wimbledon due to injury.

What’s Next?

Djokovic continues his pursuit of history as he prepares for his third-round match. While his physical form remains under scrutiny, his mental toughness and experience once again proved decisive.

With Taylor Fritz, Jiri Lehecka, and Tomas Machac all advancing, and Casper Ruud out, the men’s draw is opening up. But as long as Djokovic remains in the mix — even when not at his best — he’s still the man to beat.