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Djokovic, 38, Chases 25th Grand Slam Title, Faces Alcaraz at US Open Semis

Sandy Verma September 04, 2025 01:24 AM

Djokovic, 38, Chases 25th Grand Slam Title, Faces Alcaraz at US Open Semis/ TezzBuzz/ 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.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot against Taylor Fritz, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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.”

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot to Jiri Lehecka, of the Czech Republic, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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 oldhe’s not ready to stop. On Friday, the Serbian star will step onto Arthur Ashe Stadium chasing his 25th Grand Slam championshipaiming to extend a record book that already bears his name.

It’s been two years since Djokovic’s last Slam titlethe 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 semifinalswhere Carlos Alcaraz, 22awaits.

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 2025with titles at Monte-Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club, Cincinnati, and a final at Wimbledon.

A Historic Pursuit

Djokovic already owns 24 major titlesmore 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.

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.

Alcaraz and Sinner have combined to win nine of the last 12 Grand Slam titleswhile Djokovic claimed the other three — most recently the 2023 U.S. Open.

The Veteran’s Resolve

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.