NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic was progressing smoothly with a substantial initial advantage in his US Open fourth-round contest on Sunday evening when he experienced some neck discomfort. This did not deter Djokovic from overpowering Jan-Lennard Struff, the 144th-ranked qualifier, with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, thereby achieving his record-breaking 64th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
Djokovic has now advanced to the quarterfinals at each major tournament in a single year for the ninth instance in his career, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record for the highest number among both male and female players in the Open era.
At the age of 38, Djokovic is the most senior competitor to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Jimmy Connors, who was 39 during the 1991 tournament. Djokovic holds the distinction of being the oldest quarterfinalist at any major since Federer, who was also 39, at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.
“What instills significant encouragement and optimism within me at present is the manner in which I performed this evening,” Djokovic commented. “It marks my finest performance in the tournament thus far. I am hopeful that I can sustain this momentum.”
Djokovic held a lead of 4-0, 15-love when he executed a skillfully angled volley winner, advancing his score to 30-love in that particular game. The 24-time Grand Slam champion then promptly clutched the back of his neck and initiated head rotations.
The 38-year-old Djokovic continuously attempted to stretch his neck or mobilize his right shoulder between points, subsequently conceding that game and the subsequent one as well. However, he swiftly reestablished dominance over Struff, who had triumphed against Frances Tiafoe in the preceding round and was endeavoring to reach a major quarterfinal for the first time.
Following his improved record of 8-0 against Struff, Djokovic now carries a 10-0 head-to-head record into his quarterfinal match on Tuesday against Taylor Fritz, the 2024 US Open runner-up.
“I anticipate that players who have never defeated me will enter the court with the intention of trying something novel, potentially aiming to make me feel uneasy and adopting a more aggressive approach, or perhaps not,” Djokovic stated. “I do not foresee any significant alterations with Taylor, as one typically adheres to the game plan that facilitated their progression to the quarterfinals, recognizing their inherent strengths, which for him undeniably consist of serve and forehand.”
Fritz, seeded No. 4 and the remaining American male participant in the competition, secured his place in the quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory on Sunday against No. 21 Tomas Machac.
“The reality is that it has extended over numerous years. During the initial seven or eight encounters, I likely was not sufficiently proficient to possess a substantial opportunity unless I experienced an exceptional performance while he had a suboptimal one,” Fritz remarked. “Only in the last couple of instances that we’ve played, I believe, have I been a better player capable of competing and having chances.”
Following Djokovic’s completion of the opening set against Struff, he was attended to by a trainer for treatment during the subsequent changeover. Djokovic received a massage targeting his neck and shoulder.
Regardless of any persisting discomfort, his performance remained largely unaffected. During the intermission following that set, Djokovic had his right forearm massaged. However, there were again no indications of distress while the ball was in play.
Djokovic has previously received attention from trainers during the tournament, including for blisters on his foot in the first round and for a lower-back issue in the third.
He has secured four championships in New York, with his most recent victory occurring in 2023.
ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
