Novak Djokovic Can Make History at US Open—Here’s How

Tennis star Novak Djokovic could make history at the U.S. Open this week and break a record set in 1973.

If he is victorious at Flushing Meadows, the Serb would move to 25 Grand Slam titles, surpassing the 51-year record held by tennis icon, Margaret Court, and thereby stake his claim to be the sport’s greatest ever player.

Earlier this week, Djokovic began his quest for the title, defeating Moldova’s Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 Tuesday. By beating Albot the Serb broke Roger Federer’s record for the most wins at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, moving to 78—although said afterward he wasn’t aware of the added significance of his first-round victory.

He plays his countryman Laslo Djere, who has a world ranking of 109, back at the Arthur Ashe Stadium Wednesday night.

Djokovic enters the U.S. Open as the second seeded player behind Italy’s Jannik Sinner. The Serbian tennis star is coming off an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Games, after defeating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

“It’s always challenging to start, particularly when you haven’t played on this surface for five, six months, and coming off an Olympic gold and playing on clay. I haven’t had any official matches before the U.S. Open. So I’m expecting to be probably challenged a little bit more in the opening rounds,” Djokovic said. “Hopefully, I can play better each day.”

Top 20 combined male and female Grand Slam winners of all time

A Grand Slam title in tennis refers to winning one of the sport’s four most prestigious tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. These events, held annually across different surfaces, are the pinnacle of the tennis calendar, and securing a Grand Slam title is considered one of the highest achievements in the sport.

During her career, which spanned from 1960 to 1977, Court won 24 Grand Slam titles, and overall 64 major titles. The Australian great’s wins included 19 major women’s doubles and 21 major mixed doubles titles. She won her last singles Grand Slam at the US Open in 1973.

Djokovic began his career in 2003 and he has gone on to surpass fellow tennis greats, Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland, in total tennis Grand Slam titles. Nadal currently has 22 Grand Slam titles and Federer retired with 20 Grand Slam titles.

Following behind Federer is Pete Sampras, who won 14 Grand Slam titles and Roy Emerson who won 12 Grand Slam titles.

On the women’s side, following behind Court is Serena Williams with 23 Grand Slam titles, Steffi Graf with 22 Grand Slam titles and Helen Wills Moody, with 19 Grand Slam titles.

Following his victory on Monday, Djokovic, 37, is now undefeated in first round matches at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, with 18 wins. In the tournament overall, which takes place on a hard court, Djokovic holds a record of 89-13.

He has won the U.S. Open four separate times and will look to secure his fifth win, and possible 25th Grand Slam title at the event.