Novak Djokovic is chasing history this September, as he aims to become the outright leader in Grand Slam singles titles won.
Djokovic, who fell short against Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, is tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history.
The Serbian’s last major victory came in 2023, when he avenged his 2022 final loss to win the US Open.
The upcoming US Open represents Djokovic’s best and last hope of reaching number 25. The Serbian ace is 38 years old and the time remaining for him to achieve this feat is dwindling.
Below are three reasons why the US Open is the perfect time for Novak Djokovic to win his 25th Grand Slam
![Novak Djokovic (SRB) [6] during his Gentlemen's Singles Fourth Round match against Alex de Minaur (AUS) [11] during day eight of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2025 in London, England.](https://cdn1.tennishead.net/uploads/106/2025/07/GettyImages-2223371380-1024x717.jpg)
Novak Djokovic’s strong US Open record
It is no secret that Novak Djokovic has a strong record at the US Open.
The Serbian star is tied for the second most men’s singles titles in the Open Era alongside his great rival Rafael Nadal.
He is only beaten out by Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, who all have five US Open titles to their name.
The Serbian has also consistently reached the latter stages of the tournament, having reached the final a further six times.
Also, Djokovic’s last Grand Slam victory was at the US Open. In that match, he avenged his 2022 US Open final loss by beating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to win his 24th major.
Ultimately, Djokovic has all the tools and experience of playing and succeeding in New York to win his 25th Grand Slam Crown.
Carlos Alcaraz has struggled at the US Open in recent times
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner present the biggest stumbling blocks to Novak Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam title. The pair have won the last seven Grand Slam men’s singles titles combined, and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Alcaraz’s first Grand Slam title was won at the 2022 US Open, when he beat Casper Ruud in the final. However, he has since struggled to perform to a high standard at the major.
In 2023, he reached the semi-final stage before losing to Daniil Medvedev in four sets. He was then shocked at the 2024 edition, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.
Djokovic also has a positive head to head record against Alcaraz, leading the Spaniard by five wins to three. The Serbian player has beaten Alcaraz in their last two encounters: at the 2025 Australian Open and the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal match.
However, Djokovic will not want to play another of his great rivals, Jannik Sinner. The Italian leads their head-to-head by six wins to four and has won their last five matches dating back to the 2023 Davis Cup Finals.
Of those victories for Sinner, the two most recent have come at the semi-final stages of the 2025 French Open and Wimbledon tournaments, giving Djokovic cause for concern.
The US Open crowd may affect his opponents
Alongside the French Open, the US Open crowd is known for creating some of the most boisterous atmospheres on tour.
Numerous players have had run-ins with the crowd, including Daniil Medvedev, Laura Siegmund and even Novak Djokovic, who Rafael Nadal said did not deserve to be booed after retiring from his US Open fourth-round match in 2016.
Some players, like Daniil Medvedev, thrive in the toxic atmosphere. Others find it more difficult.
Djokovic has never been one to mince words, but he has always thrived when playing the ‘villain’ role on court.
For years, he was the bane of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal fans. It was a rarity that Djokovic would hold the majority of support in a stadium if he was competing against either of those two players.
However, Djokovic is a master at utilising these hostile environments to his advantage.
Speaking on Nick Kyrgios’ Good Trouble Podcast in 2024, Djokovic said: “I don’t know, it really depends. People think that I really thrive on that energy when somebody doesn’t like me or I’m facing adversity on and off the court.
“Sometimes I do because that’s the only thing I have in that moment. I have to find a solution. I have to find a way to win a tennis match and be who I am, be true to myself. I know that not everyone will like me.
“I know that people of course have their favorite players or maybe they want an underdog to win and things like that happen.”
