Djokovic, 38, Chases 25th Grand Slam Title, Faces Alcaraz at US Open Semis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Novak Djokovic, 38, returns to the U.S. Open semifinals chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian great faces 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in a marquee showdown, with top seed Jannik Sinner potentially waiting in the final. Djokovic acknowledges age and injuries but insists he’s ready to battle.
Djokovic U.S. Open Semifinal Quick Looks
- Djokovic reaches his 53rd Slam semifinal, 14th at U.S. Open.
- Faces Carlos Alcaraz (age 22) in semifinal, holding a 5-3 edge.
- Could meet top seed Jannik Sinner (23) in the final.
- Djokovic owns 24 Grand Slam titles, 37 Slam finals appearances.
- No major title since 2023 U.S. Open, longest drought since 2017.
- Injuries forced exits at Australian Open (hamstring) and Wimbledon (groin).
- Alcaraz on hot streak: 59-6 record in 2025, six titles.
- Djokovic won last two meetings vs. Alcaraz, including Paris Olympics gold medal.
- Alcaraz: “I really want revenge. That’s obvious.”
- Djokovic: “I definitely am not going with a white flag.”
Djokovic, 38, Chases 25th Grand Slam Title, Faces Alcaraz at US Open Semis
Deep Look
NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic has spent two decades rewriting tennis history, and at 38 years old, he’s not ready to stop. On Friday, the Serbian star will step onto Arthur Ashe Stadium chasing his 25th Grand Slam championship, aiming to extend a record book that already bears his name.
It’s been two years since Djokovic’s last Slam title, the longest drought of his career since 2017. Injuries hampered his 2024 season: he retired from the Australian Open with a torn hamstring and struggled through a groin issue at Wimbledon. After withdrawing from tournaments this summer, Flushing Meadows marks his first event since July.
Yet once again, Djokovic has fought his way into the U.S. Open semifinals, where Carlos Alcaraz, 22, awaits.
Djokovic vs. Alcaraz: Generational Showdown
Djokovic holds a 5-3 career edge against Alcaraz, including victories in the 2024 Australian Open quarterfinals and the Paris Olympics gold-medal final. But Alcaraz enters in dominant form: he has not dropped a set at this U.S. Open and owns a 59-6 record in 2025, with titles at Monte-Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club, Cincinnati, and a final at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz, who has already won five Grand Slam titles, openly welcomed the challenge. “I really want revenge. That’s obvious,” he said after reaching the semifinals.
Djokovic acknowledged the difficulty of facing tennis’s new elite. “Everybody is probably expecting and anticipating a final between [Alcaraz and Sinner]. I’m going to try to mess up the plans of most of the people.”
A Historic Pursuit
Djokovic already owns 24 major titles, more than any man in history, along with 37 Grand Slam finals and the most weeks ranked No. 1. But competing at age 38 is a new frontier.
“Normally I like to play the big matches on the big stage,” Djokovic said. “It’s just that I’m not really sure how the body is going to feel in the next few days. But I’m going to do my very best with my team to be fit for that.”
He added with a smile: “It’s not going to get easier, I’ll tell you that. I just would really love that — to be ready to battle five sets, if it’s needed.”
Sinner Lurking Ahead
If Djokovic gets past Alcaraz, the final could feature Jannik Sinner, the 23-year-old world No. 1 who has won two Slams this year and ended Djokovic’s runs at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Sinner faces Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal against another rising star before a possible clash with Djokovic.
The Veteran’s Resolve
Despite age, injuries, and a new generation of rivals, Djokovic insists he won’t yield easily. “I definitely am not going with a white flag on the court,” he said.
For Djokovic, every Slam opportunity is precious now. The semifinal against Alcaraz represents not just a battle of generations but perhaps his best chance to silence doubts about his longevity and reclaim tennis’s biggest prize.
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