Novak Djokovic Returns to Third Round of 2025 US Open After Slow Start

JAKARTA - For the second consecutive match at the 2025 US Open, Novak Djokovic appeared a bit sluggish, a bit uninspired, for a while.

This time, he even dropped the opening set. Then, as usual at Flushing Meadows, the 24-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the third round.

Djokovic improved his record to 36-0 in the first and second rounds in New York, where he has won four championships, by rallying to defeat 145th-ranked American Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, local time.

"I really tried to enjoy the moment, especially when I won the first set. It kind of surprised me," said Svajda, a 22-year-old from San Diego.

Playing his first free practice match on Arthur Ashe Stadium since 2014, Djokovic improved to 54-45 in major tournaments after dropping the opening set—the most wins by any male player in the Open Era since 1968.

Asked on court after the match how he felt in his first tournament since losing to defending champion Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon semifinals on July 11, 2025, due to a groin injury, Djokovic replied, "Honestly, not so great."

Svajda also acknowledged that Djokovic wasn't at his best.

"He was a little bit out of shape. He was starting to get a little frustrated," said Svajda, who experienced cramps in his legs and arms during the match.

At his press conference, the 38-year-old Djokovic later spoke more about his mood.

"It's not about motivation. It's like I was a little frustrated with my game, and then I went through some internal things that you don't want to know the details of, and I told myself that."

"I was just trying to focus. Just trying to solve the puzzle once I got on the court. It's not that I don't find joy on the court when competing."

"I enjoy competing, but I don't like not playing well. That's why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to be better in the next match," he said after reaching the third round of a major tournament for the 75th time, breaking Roger Federer's record for most appearances by a male tennis player.

Djokovic will next face Cam Norrie—a British left-hander who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2022—on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. WIB.

Norrie, who is winless in six meetings with Djokovic, will face a similar task as Svajda.

"He did everything very well, it was incredible. I spoke to my team and my coach beforehand, trying to figure it out. He's Novak Djokovic, so there are no major weaknesses," Svajda told ESPN.

In the other second round of men's singles, 20th seed Jiri Lehecka defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, and 6-4.

Then, Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, seeded 21st, defeated 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca 7-6 (4), 6-2, and 6-3.

Casper Ruud—the 12th seed—who has a 0-3 record in Grand Slam finals, including a loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows in 2022, was defeated by Raphael Collignon of Belgium 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, and 7-5.

Collignon, ranked 107th, had never won a match at a major tournament or played a five-set match until this tournament.

Another seeded player to be eliminated was 18th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who was defeated in five sets by Arthur Rinderknech.

6th-ranked Jakub Mensik, who was eliminated by Ugo Blanchet 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4, and 7-6 (7), dropped to 1-6 in five-set matches at major tournaments.