Novak Djokovic finds himself in familiar territory at the US Open, advancing to his 14th semifinal at Flushing Meadows while fighting against both younger opponents and his aging body. The 38-year-old Serbian defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets Tuesday night, setting up a blockbuster clash against 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in what promises to be a generational battle.
"It's not going to get easier, I'll tell you that," Djokovic said with a wry smile after his quarterfinal victory. "I'm going to try to take one day at a time. Really take care of my body. Try to relax and recover."
This semifinal appearance marks Djokovic's 53rd at major tournaments – an astonishing statistic that underscores his longevity. However, the tennis legend hasn't claimed a Grand Slam title in two years, which for a man with 24 major championships must feel like forever.
Health concerns have plagued Djokovic throughout 2025. He exited the Australian Open with a torn hamstring and struggled with a groin muscle injury at Wimbledon. In fact, he hadn't played competitively since leaving the All England Club in July before arriving in New York.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, has been absolutely crushing the competition. The young Spaniard hasn't dropped a single set during the tournament and boasts an impressive 59-6 record this year with six titles. Since April? An even more remarkable 43-2.
"I really want revenge," Alcaraz stated bluntly, referring to recent losses against Djokovic at the Australian Open and Paris Olympics.
Interestingly, while Djokovic holds a 5-3 head-to-head advantage over Alcaraz, the challenge ahead remains daunting. Should he overcome the Spanish phenom, world number one Jannik Sinner might await in the final – the same player who eliminated Djokovic in the semifinals of both the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
Despite being the elder statesman in a young man's game, Djokovic remains defiant about his chances: "Everybody is probably expecting and anticipating a final between them [Alcaraz and Sinner]. I'm going to try to mess up the plans of most of the people."
Can the aging champion summon one more magical run at Flushing Meadows? Friday's semifinal will tell us a lot.
