A Spontaneous Court Grab Before the First Ball
Novak Djokovic caught US Open organizers off guard before his first-round match against Argentina's Mariano Navone, slotting in an unscheduled hitting session on Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows. The window opened up after Daniil Medvedev wrapped up his match against Hugo Gaston in just over two hours, leaving a gap before the evening session. Djokovic moved quickly, taking the chance to get a feel for the main showcase court with minimal notice. The move raised eyebrows among those watching, given how close it was to his own match time.
The last-minute session reflects something of a makeshift build-up for Djokovic heading into this tournament. He fell in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open to Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tirante, leaving him light on competitive preparation. Still, the 39-year-old said the early exit actually gave him nearly two full weeks of focused training to prepare his body and mind properly. He acknowledged the gap between hitting in practice and competing in best-of-five matches on the biggest stage in the sport, but said he genuinely felt as ready as possible heading in.
Pointing to Alcaraz and Shelton as the Real Favorites
Despite his unmistakable Grand Slam pedigree, Djokovic was candid about where he sees himself in the pecking order this fortnight. He pointed to Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton as players currently in better form, calling them the ones to watch in New York. Djokovic is chasing his 25th major title and his first since winning the US Open in 2023, yet he resisted any suggestion he enters as a frontrunner.
He did not hide his love for the tournament itself, describing the night sessions on Arthur Ashe Stadium as the most electric environment in the sport. TennisDraw users were split on whether to back Djokovic deep into the draw given his limited match time coming in.
