Djokovic Aims for 25th Grand Slam at US Open Amid Aging Body

Novak Djokovic arrives at the US Open with one aim dominating the conversation around his 2025 campaign: a 25th Grand Slam title that would cement his place in the modern era as the oldest to win a major, and perhaps the greatest, even as his body shows signs of age. The 38-year-old has been unusually selective about his schedule this year in an effort to peak for the majors, and the plan now centers on Flushing Meadows as the final major of the season. He has reached the semifinals at three successive Grand Slams this year but has yet to secure a trophy beyond an Olympic gold and a Geneva title, and he enters the Open with questions about durability and the level of competition he must beat to claim another trophy.

Djokovic’s 2025 arc has been about careful management as much as relentless pursuit. After skipping most hardcourt tune-ups in Toronto and Cincinnati, he has placed all his chips on the US Open, hoping that a combination of rest, sharpness and a favorable draw can unlock the door to his 25th major. He has not played a competitive singles match since his Wimbledon semifinal loss, a period Djokovic has described as a test of his physical endurance and a sign that the...