Novak Djokovic Rolls Into U.S. Open At 23-0 In 2020, Looks To Close Major Gap On Nadal, Federer

Can anyone or anything stop Novak Djokovic from winning his 18th Grand Slam title two weeks from Sunday at the U.S. Open?

At this point the only thing that might impede the 33-year-old world No. 1 from closing the historical gap on rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is Djokovic’s own health.

He battled a stiff neck and stomach troubles this week at the Western & Southern Open on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but still managed to win his 80th career title on Saturday with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic.

Djokovic captured his 35th Masters 1000 title, tying him with Nadal. He is the only man to win all nine Masters 1000 titles once, and the only one to win them twice.

Djokovic enters the Open at 23-0 in 2020 and has won 26 straight matches dating to 2019. The Serb has won five of the last seven Grand Slam tournaments.

Federer (injury) and defending champion Nadal (COVID-19 concerns) are both skipping the tournament, marking the first Grand Slam event since the 1999 U.S. Open in which neither will play. Djokovic has said they will be “missed a lot.”

Djokovic, who tested positive for COVID earlier this summer but has now recovered, remains the favorite to win his 18th Grand Slam title and fourth U.S. Open crown (2011, ‘15, ‘18). He will begin play Monday at 7 p.m. in Arthur Ashe Stadium against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur.

The three-time Open champ has made no secret of the fact that he wants to win more Slams and ultimately surpass Nadal (19) and Federer (20).

“I mean, going on an unbeaten run so far this year obviously brings even more confidence each match,” he said. “I get to play next match. I’m just trying to enjoy it and embrace the process. How long that journey is going to last and what kind of legacy I’m going to leave behind, that’s on somebody else to really judge and, you know, and evaluate.

“But I’m trying to do my best. Obviously on the court with the goals and ambitions that I have, obviously I want to play my best tennis in Grand Slams and 1000 events. That’s what I’m focusing on right now. And also off the court, trying to make the most out of the energy that I have preserved.”

While battling a stiff neck, Djokovic dropped the first set in both the semifinal to Roberto Bautista Agut and the final against Raonic. He was visited by the trainer several times against Agut, but still put his foot on the gas and closed the Spaniard out 7-0 in the third-set tiebreak.

One day later, he dropped the first set against Raonic and looked like he might be vulnerable, especially when he held his head and touched his neck early. But again, Djokovic rebounded and gutted out a tough three-set win.

“You know, he does what Novak does,” Raonic said. “He puts in a few more balls. He makes things a little more difficult. First few moments there I was stepping up, but there was a few lapses that I had, and he made the most of it.”

A year ago, Djokovic was forced to retire in his fourth-round U.S. Open match with Stan Wawrinka, and Nadal went on to win the title.

Djokovic hopes to avoid similar health issues this year.

“I retired the match against Stan, and anyway, even if I was 100 percent, it’s still no guarantee I would win against Stan because he’s a phenomenal player and loves to play on a big stage and has beaten me in various Grand Slams and various surfaces,” he said.

Djokovic, like every other player in the tournament, will be playing their first U.S. Open without fans due to the pandemic. He admitted there was some “tension” among the players on the grounds because of the uncertain atmosphere, but also said he’s looking forward to the fortnight.

“ I always love playing in New York,” he said. “I think I’m not the only one who shares the opinion that this is probably the most exciting, energetic, dynamic, explosive tennis court that we have in the sport with the fans and 22,000 people that fit in on that court.

“So I really am grateful that I got to experience so many times in my career the wonderful feelings on that court. It is strange to see empty stands. The circumstances are very unusual. But we have to accept that, we have to deal with it and try to embrace it.

“I think I see also some positives, I mean, something that we have not experienced so much and obviously pressure is there when you’re facing a break point or you have to win a match. And of course for me the last couple of days it was a great fantastic two tests that I had prior to U.S. Open.”

He called it a “positive” there he and other players have their own suites to have “down time and be with your team. “You know, have your quiet room where you can relax and get ready for the match,” he said.

“So there are positives obviously, but you can sense that around the site there is a certain tension, as well, because everyone is obviously being careful, but at the same time, you know, everyone needs to pay attention and follow the protocols and restrictions that are in place.”