Novak Djokovic is chasing a 25th Grand Slam title, but a glaring new vulnerability is threatening to derail that pursuit before he even reaches Flushing Meadows.
On the surface, 2026 has been a respectable year for the Serbian legend. He reached the Australian Open final, advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals, and carries an impressive 14-5 win-loss record despite playing a reduced schedule. Yet look closely at those five losses and a deeply concerning pattern emerges.
Four of Djokovic's five defeats this season have arrived after he won the opening set. He dropped the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, lost to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, fell to Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open, and surrendered a two-set lead to Joao Fonseca at Roland Garros before finally losing in five. Jannik Sinner then ended his Wimbledon run as well. The common thread is damaging: Djokovic builds a lead and cannot close.
This is particularly alarming given his historical record. Before 2026, Djokovic had won 82 consecutive matches after taking the first set. That run made him one of the most lethal front-runners the sport has ever produced. Something has clearly shifted.
For a player whose Grand Slam path almost always involves long, grueling matches, the inability to convert leads is a serious problem. If opponents know they simply need to survive an early deficit, Djokovic loses one of his most powerful psychological weapons.
He will look to sharpen his game at the Cincinnati Open starting August 11, a tournament he has won three times previously (2018, 2020, and 2023), before targeting New York.
TennisDraw users considering Djokovic deep in the US Open bracket will want to weigh this troubling trend carefully before locking in their picks.
