Novak Djokovic fights past Cameron Norrie to become oldest man to reach US Open fourth round since 1991 | US Open Tennis 2025

At a time when Novak Djokovic could really benefit from a few simple victories to facilitate the first laps of his latest Grand Chelem tournament of the year, nothing easily came to New York. But under the brilliant lights on Friday evening, Djokovic held an impressive Cameron Norrie to reach the fourth round of the US Open with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 victory in its best tournament performance so far.

The victory made of Djokovic, 38, the oldest man to reach the last 16 of the US Open in 34 years – from Jimmy Connors in 1991. He also binds Roger Federer for the most of the fourth round of the most of the Grand Slam in history with 69 appearances. “These kinds of matches and performances always give me the hope of being able to go far, to challenge the best players in the world,” said Djokovic.

Norrie faced an unnviable challenge in her very first appearance in the Arthur Ashe stadium. Djokovic is perhaps vulnerable in New York given his absence of six weeks of the tour and a lukewarm form in his previous games, but the champion of the Grand Chelem 24 times proved a nightmarish match for Norrie during the British career. Djokovic had won each of their six previous meetings, losing only two sets.

For a while, Djokovic seemed to walk around an effortless victory when he broke the service very early and moved towards securing the opening, but 5-3, the Serbian began to fight with his movement and he has repeatedly extended his lower back. He quickly called the coach, taking a medical time outside the field at 5-4.

“Regarding what I feel, it goes up and down really, to be honest,” said Djokovic. “It is frustrating for me, honestly, that I am not able to feel 100% always as I have been having it for over 20 years. But I suppose that the circumstances are quite different and I have to get used to the fact that each match there is something that could happen, because it is the case this year in just about all slams.”

Although he returned to close the set, continuing his excellent early service form, Djokovic did not seem happy. Her many breaks finally led Norrie to speak with the referee of his time between the points. “I don’t think it’s a tactic, but I would have liked to see the referee being a little more assertive. It hasn’t changed anything for the match,” said Norrie.

“Just three or four times, I had to wait for it on my service, and in part I think it was perhaps a little stretched … But it was nothing to do with Novak. I just asked the referee what is the rule every time I had to wait for him. No, it was really nothing there. ”

Thanks to these disturbances, Norrie tried to put the Serb under pressure. He played much more offensive tennis than usual and, consequently of his courage, he set up his best tennis section against Djokovic, forcing a break in equality and behaving strongly under pressure to level the match. Norrie’s right blow, often underestimated against the best players, was spectacular in the middle of the match.

Faced with a real challenge, Djokovic responded securely. His portion was supreme in the end sets, ending with 18 AS, and he smothered the Norrie game with an implacable depth while dictating the game. It was a quality match of the two players, allowing Djokovic to go around the second week hoping that he finds his rhythm and his shape.

Norrie, on the other hand, leaves New York after continuing his excellent form throughout this summer while he is trying to recover from the best players in the world.

“I always think that when I play these best players like Rafa in the past or Novak, I think it’s like a different type of level, playing against them and I still play so much, so well after these tournaments, you obviously get a lot of representatives,” said Norrie.

“To play against these best guys and to see what they can bring a point and emphasize is certainly a different level. So I can be a lot of confidence in this too.”