Novak Djokovic Survives Scare Against Cameron Norrie To Advance At 2025 US Open

The old man’s still got it, folks. At 38 years young, Novak Djokovic reminded everyone at Arthur Ashe Stadium why he has been the king of tennis for over a decade. Sure, he had us all sweating bullets when he grabbed his lower back in the first set, but the Serbian maestro pulled through with a gutsy 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie on Friday night.

When Father Time Comes Knocking

Watching Djokovic wince and call for the trainer had every tennis fan’s heart skip a beat. The guy disappeared into the locker room for a medical timeout, leaving 23,000 people wondering if we were about to witness the end of an era. But this is Djokovic we’re talking about. The man who’s made a career out of rising from the ashes came back swinging.

“You don’t want to reveal too much to the rivals listening,” Djokovic said with that trademark grin when pressed about his back issues. Classic Novak – keeping his cards close to his chest while probably already plotting his next five moves on the tennis chessboard.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Here’s where things get interesting. Djokovic didn’t just survive. He dominated when it mattered. The seven-time Wimbledon champion unleashed 18 aces, his personal best at Flushing Meadows. That’s right, at 38, he’s still setting personal records. Meanwhile, Norrie threw everything he had at the wall, smashing 44 winners, including 27 off his forehand, but it wasn’t enough to crack the code.

This victory marked Djokovic’s record-setting 192nd Grand Slam match win on hard courts. Let that sink in for a moment. While other players his age are thinking about retirement communities, Djokovic is out here breaking records like it’s 2011.

What’s Next For the GOAT?

Now, Djokovic faces German Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round, a guy who’s already knocked out two seeds in Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe. Don’t sleep on Struff – he’s dangerous when he gets rolling. But if we’re being honest, Djokovic is eyeing that potential quarterfinal showdown with Taylor Fritz and a possible semifinal date with Carlos Alcaraz.

The path to his 25th Grand Slam title is crystal clear, and despite the early drama, Djokovic looks like he’s finding his groove at just the right time. His serve was clicking, his movement looked sharp, and most importantly, that champion’s mentality was on full display.

The Comeback Kid Strikes Again

What makes this performance so impressive isn’t just the win. It was how the all-time great bounced back from adversity. When Norrie snatched the second set in a tiebreak, many players would have let doubt creep in. Not Djokovic. He responded by winning four straight games in the third set, showing the kind of mental fortitude that’s defined his legendary career.

“It’s good that I get tested,” Djokovic said post-match. “I obviously haven’t had any matches since Wimbledon. I’m still trying to find my rhythm and my groove on the court.”

As the tournament progresses, one thing becomes increasingly clear – writing off Djokovic is a fool’s errand. The man who’s spent 428 weeks at No. 1 isn’t ready to pass the torch just yet. With his 24th major coming at this very tournament in 2023, don’t be surprised if history repeats itself in spectacular fashion.