After clinching the elusive Olympic gold medal in Paris, Novak Djokovic is set to target a record 25th Grand Slam title at the upcoming US Open. The Serbian tennis legend, who completed a career Golden Slam with his Olympic victory, faces a critical challenge as he aims to surpass Margaret Court’s record and solidify his place in tennis history.

Djokovic, 37, enters the US Open with renewed vigor despite a season marked by stumbles against emerging rivals. He was narrowly defeated by Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. Djokovic’s bid for the Grand Slam was further complicated by a knee injury that forced his withdrawal from the French Open quarter-finals.

The 2024 season has seen Djokovic struggle to secure a major title, a situation he has not experienced since 2010. However, his Olympic triumph at Roland Garros—where he defeated Alcaraz—indicates a potential return to form. The decision to skip US Open warm-ups in Montreal and Cincinnati was aimed at recuperating fully and preparing for a strong showing at Flushing Meadows.

Former coach Goran Ivanisevic remains optimistic about Djokovic’s prospects. “The gold medal will lift him,” Ivanisevic said. “If he plays like he did in Paris, he’s the man to beat at the US Open.”

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, the current world No. 1, arrives in New York after a disappointing performance in Cincinnati, where he was defeated by Gael Monfils. Alcaraz, who has shown brilliance throughout the season, aims to recover from his recent loss and make a strong push at the US Open.

Jannik Sinner, another significant contender, enters the tournament after a strong performance in Cincinnati. Despite a recent controversy involving failed drug tests, Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing and looks to build on his success from earlier in the season.

The field also includes other top contenders like Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, and Casper Ruud, as well as Daniil Medvedev, who is seeking to regain form after a series of lackluster performances. American players, including Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Frances Tiafoe, will also look to end the country’s 21-year Grand Slam drought.

As Djokovic prepares to chase his historic 25th title, all eyes will be on Flushing Meadows to see if he can overcome his younger rivals and etch his name further into the annals of tennis history.