US OPEN: Hungry for more

New York, August 25

As big a deal as finally winning an Olympics gold medal was to Novak Djokovic, as much as he has accomplished in tennis — the men’s-record 24 Grand Slam trophies, the 99 total titles, the most weeks at No. 1 for any player and on and on — do not for a moment think he is satisfied as the US Open begins.

“People would ask me: Now that you have basically won everything with the golden medal, what else is there to win?’ I still feel the drive. I still have the competitive spirit,” the 37-year-old from Serbia said. “I still want to make more history and enjoy myself on the tour.”

If it seems like there is always some sort of milestone in the offing when Djokovic takes the court, that’s because there usually is. This time around at Flushing Meadows, where play begins tomorrow and the No. 2-seeded Djokovic faces 138th-ranked Radu Albot of Moldova at night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, there is the latest opportunity to get Major singles championship No. 25, a total no man or woman ever has reached in tennis.

As the defending champion, there is also a chance to become the first man to win at least two consecutive titles at the US Open since Roger Federer swept five in a row from 2004 to 2008.

“I didn’t know it was that long. Hopefully that changes this year,” Djokovic said. “I mean, that’s the goal. The goal is always for me to try to go all the way to the finals and fight for the trophy. That kind of mindset or approach is no different for me this year.”

That consistency of purpose is what has carried him to all of his achievements. “I want to follow what Djokovic has done always in his career,” said Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old who already owns four Majors himself, “which is getting better and improving, showing up at the court playing at his best level.”

It’s also as widely admired by other players in the sport as the numbers — “Colossal,” Alcaraz called the idea of winning a 25th Major — associated with Djokovic’s name.

Alcaraz twists ankle

Alcaraz cut short a training session after twisting his right ankle but said he isn’t worried that it will be a problem for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament.

“I think it is OK. I just stopped my practice just for precaution,” said the Spaniard, who won the championship at Flushing Meadows in 2022.

Gauff, Swiatek, Sabalenka headline tough women’s field

American Coco Gauff begins her US Open title defence on Arthur Ashe Stadium, headlining a wide open women’s field that includes world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff plays France’s Varvara Gracheva in the opening round and hopes to put a series of frustrating performances behind her — including early exits from Toronto and Cincinnati — to recapture the magic of her run to a maiden Major title. Gauff could meet Sabalenka in the semifinals, with the Belarusian hungry for the trophy after coming close but never quite getting the title within her grasp. She reached at least the semifinal stage of the tournament over the last three years and has learned lessons from tough defeats. After retaining her title in Australia, Sabalenka endured a rough mid-year stretch as she suffered a back injury and skipped Wimbledon with a shoulder injury. She arrived in New York confident and fit, however, after skipping the Olympics to focus on her health and winning the Cincinnati tune-up tournament. Poland’s Swiatek hopes to add another title to a memorable year, after she picked up her fifth Major at the French Open and won in Qatar, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome, as well. Reuters