Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic Breaks Age Milestone at US Open 2025, Oldest in 34 Years and Leader in Hard-Court Grand Slam Wins

Djokovic outlasts Norrie at the US Open 2025, setting an age milestone and surpassing Federer’s Slam records.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic continued to redefine tennis longevity at the US Open 2025, defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie in four sets to reach the last 16. In a night where his back flared up and his resolve was tested, the 24-time Grand Slam champion became the oldest man in 34 years to advance to the fourth round in New York.

A run to remember incoming for Novak Djokovic? pic.twitter.com/k1ygeSr6VY
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2025

Djokovic’s Win Over Cameron Norrie and Age Milestone

Friday’s victory was anything but straightforward. After building a 5-3 lead in the opening set, Djokovic required a medical timeout to treat a lower back issue, giving Norrie hope. The Briton snatched the second set in a tiebreak, but the Serbian responded with trademark resilience to seal a 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 win under the Arthur Ashe lights.

The result made Djokovic, at 38 years and 99 days, the oldest player since Jimmy Connors in 1991 to reach the US Open fourth round. “In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest,” Djokovic admitted. “Yeah, it’s frustrating for me… that I’m not able to feel 100% always like I have for 20-plus years.” Still, the humor was there. “I’m as young as ever, as strong as ever,” he joked on court.

69 – Novak Djokovic has reached a 69th Men’s Singles round of 16 at Grand Slam events, equalling Roger Federer (69) for the most of any player in the Open Era. Thanos.#USOpen | @usopen @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/hqSwoDvbkI
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 30, 2025

Djokovic Overtook Federer in Hard-Court Major Wins

The victory did more than extend his campaign in New York. By defeating Norrie, Djokovic overtook Roger Federer with his 192nd career hard-court Grand Slam win and tied his old rival with 69 Grand Slam fourth-round appearances, the most in the Open Era. The milestone came just a round after Djokovic matched Federer’s previous record of 191 hard-court Slam wins by defeating Zachary Svajda.

Djokovic’s dominance on the surface is unrivaled. He owns 99 wins at the Australian Open, 92 at the US Open, and 14 hard-court major titles in total, including ten of them from Melbourne, where he is a flawless 10-0 in finals. His overall 84.3% career win rate on hard courts (721–134) stands as the highest in history. He also appeared in seven consecutive hard-court Slam finals between 2010 and 2013 and is tied with Federer for the most in a single season, three.

Novak Djokovic becomes the man with the most wins in hard court Grand Slams.

192.

Another day.

Another record.

🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/FN4QeFOE6o
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 30, 2025

The numbers don’t end there. Djokovic is level with Federer for the most overall hard-court titles at 71, has captured a record 50 “Big Titles” (Slams, Masters, and ATP Finals), and remains in the chase for a fifth US Open crown. His 92-14 record in New York places him among the tournament’s greatest ever.

For Djokovic, each win is now creating history. He is no longer just matching Federer or Sampras. But carving his own lane with one backhand and one hard court at a time, at the age of 38.

3 – Three players aged 35+ (Novak Djokovic, Adrian Mannarino and Jan-Lennard Struff) have reached the Men's Singles R16 at a GS event for the first time since the US Open in 1982 (Jaime Fillol, Robert Lutz and Ilie Nastase). Maintain.#USOpen | @usopen @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/2KKPnZGXIR
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 30, 2025

Mandatory Image Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Cameron Norrie

Hard Court Slam Wins

Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer

US Open 2025

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.