Novak Djokovic is bringing new appreciation to his latest Grand Slam campaign, chasing a men’s record-extending 24th title in New York where he has collected the trophy three times but also suffered bitter disappointment.<\/p>\n
He was disqualified in 2020 when he swatted a ball in frustration, inadvertently hitting a line judge, and in 2021 he was left heartbroken when Russian Daniil Medvedev ended his quest for a calendar Grand Slam in straight sets in the final.<\/p>\n
Last year, he was unable to travel to the tournament after U.S. authorities required COVID-19 vaccinations for non-nationals to enter the country.<\/p>\n
“It was last year during the Open that I felt it’s a pity that I’m not there. I felt sad for not being able to participate,” the world number two said on Friday.<\/p>\n
“But this year, I mean, is this year. I don’t think about what happened in the last year or last couple of years. Just focusing my attention to this year’s tournament.”<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old Serbian rolls into Flushing Meadows in peak form after defeating 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in an epic Cincinnati final that he called “one of the best, most exciting, and most difficult finals” he had ever played.<\/p>\n
“Those are kind of the moments in matches that I still push myself on a daily basis for day in and day out, practice, sacrifice, commitment. At 36, still have the drive,” said Djokovic.<\/p>\n
Fans are buzzing over the prospect of a rematch between world number one Alcaraz and second seed Djokovic in a potential New York finale, as the pair have all the makings of an epic rivalry.<\/p>\n
Djokovic beat Alcaraz in the Roland Garros semi-finals this year, en route to his third title at the clay court major. But he came up short against his young challenger at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
While the next-generation rival has clearly invigorated the man who has few peers in his sport, Djokovic said it was age and time that had helped him appreciate his craft at a new level.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know how many more slams I’ll have. I’ll still keep going,” he said. “I also understand that things are different when you’re 36, so I have to be more appreciative, a bit more I guess present, treating every Grand Slam as maybe your last one in terms of commitment and performance.”<\/p>\n
Djokovic will open his latest Grand Slam campaign against 85th-ranked Frenchman Alexandre Muller.<\/p>\n
“I see every Grand Slam that I play right now as really a golden opportunity to make more history,” he added. “Of course, there’s a big significance to that.”<\/p>\n