US Open 2025: Novak Djokovic advances, but energy dips as focus wavers | Tennis News
TOI in New York: The precision remains – 10 aces and 48 winners in his second round outing — but the spark that once lit Novak Djokovic’s challenge feels faint.The Serb may have won his opening two matches at the US Open, but the No. 7 seed looked oddly flat, disconnected from the vibrant current that powers his game. He wasn’t at war with his box — though he did gesture in their direction. It was the same with the crowd, he wasn’t sparring with them, or the umpire, with whom there was brief exchanges. It’s not so much about his groundstrokes — still solid, the backhand especially, bruising when he’s letting it rip from the corners – it’s about his energy.At times, between points or when seated during changeovers, it appeared as if the 24-time major winner was reminding himself of who he is and where he was.The Serb, tennis’ Greatest Of All Time, clarified, motivation wasn’t a factor.
“I’m a bit frustrated with my game, because of which I go through stuff internally,” he said. “I’m just trying to be locked in, trying to solve the riddle once I’m on the court. It’s not like I’m not finding joy on the court competing. I enjoy competing, but I don’t enjoy not playing well.”On Sunday night, in his first match since the Wimbledon semi-finals, playing the 19-year-old American Learner Tien, Djokovic struggled with his footwork. Two days later, when he opened the day session on Ashe, the 38-year-old’s focus wavered against American qualifier Zachary Svajda. Djokovic did enough to seal a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam for a record 75th time. “Today was a little bit of a struggle to find rhythm,” Djokovic said of his clash against Svajda, who was treated by the trainer after the second set. “That’s why maybe you haven’t seen me be so pumped after winning points and stuff.”“It’s about trying to make the most of that day and find a way to win. You have days like this where you’re not playing at your best, but you just kind of find a way,” the four-time US Open champion said. “Not to get too philosophical about it, I still love the feeling of competition, the drive that I feel on the court. I get really hard on myself a lot of the time because I expect myself to always play at the highest level.”He added, “I still have the desire to compete with the young guys. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here playing.”Next up for Djokovic, looking for a historic 25th major title, is Briton Cameron Norrie.
Ruud falls
Casper Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, including a run to the US Open final in 2022, is grappling with confidence issues.The 26-year-old, led by two-sets-to-one, and won 11 points more than his opponent in the total count, but ultimately fell to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7 in three-hours and 34-minutes.
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“The feeling of miss-hitting a lot of shots, hitting a lot of frames on my forehand which is supposed to be my best shot. It’s not a good feeling,” the 12th seed said. “When you hit three frames out of five shots, you are not bursting with confidence playing the sixth shot. It’s a little bit that and my shots don’t go where I want them to go. I don’t have a bigger explanation than that.”He added, “I don’t play with much confidence these days.”Meanwhile the fifth seed Jack Draper withdrew from the tournament. Draper, semifinalist in 2024, arrived in New York having not played a match since Wimbledon due to bone stress and bruising in his left humerus. His opponent Zizou Bergs moves into the third round of the US Open for the first time.
