Novak Djokovic ‘would love to get a chance to go for history in New York’

Shahida Jacobs
Novak Djokovic with 23rd Grand Slam
Novak Djokovic with 23rd Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic acknowledges there are still lot of ifs and buts when it comes winning a Calendar Grand Slam, but that doesn’t stop him from dreaming of “getting another chance” to create history at the US Open.

The Serbian is coming off another record-breaking weekend in Roland Garros as he won his third title in Paris to move to 23 Grand Slams – one ahead of Rafael Nadal in the list of most Slams won by a man.

With the 2023 Australian Open also already in the bag, Djokovic once again finds himself two majors away from becoming the second man in Open Era after Rod Laver to win all four Slams in the same year.

He is the heavy favourite to win at Wimbledon next month as he has won the last four trophies at SW19 and he will draw level with Roger Federer on eight titles if he makes it five in a row.

Should he be the last man standing on Centre Court it will leave the US Open as the final frontier in his quest for the Calendar Grand Slam.

Two years ago he found himself in a similar position as he won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon and reached the final of the US Open, but his challenge fell flat as Daniil Medvedev won the title.

READ MORE: How many Grand Slam titles will Novak Djokovic win before he retires?

“I’d like to get another chance in New York. Of course, I have to win Wimbledon, which is a whole different mountain to climb,” he told Tennis Channel.

“The fact that I won the last four Wimbledons gives me a lot of confidence and I look forward to that. I really do. I love playing there, that’s the dream tournament, always has been for me.

“If, if, if… that happens, I’d love to get a chance to go for history in New York. I missed the history couple [of] years ago in the last match with Medvedev.”

Djokovic doesn’t always enjoy the crowd support when he plays in big matches, but his US Open final against Medvedev was the exception.

Although he lost the match, he won the hearts of many New Yorkers as most of the spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium that night were rooting for him.

The 36-year-old, who didn’t play at the US Open last year due to their Covid-19 travelling restrictions, added: “I felt the love from New Yorkers, from all the people who were there.

“I was actually blown away with emotions of what they’ve brought to me on that day, on the court. So, I can’t wait to go back and play in New York.”

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