16 hours ago
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The British challenge at the US Open was snuffed out on Friday night, as Cam Norrie went down in five sets to old father time himself: Novak Djokovic.
It was a high-level contest which hinged on a flurry of breaks of serve at the start of the third set. Once Djokovic emerged from that exchange with the lead, he was relentless.
And so the 38-year-old Serb’s quest for Grand Slam No 25 continues. Can he do it?
This 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 win encapsulated the reasons for and against, and Norrie offered the view of a man who had just felt Djokovic’s enduring brilliance up close.
‘I think he has the level (to win the title),’ began Norrie. ‘The way he served today was, well, crazy. Especially at the beginning.
‘The question lies physically. His tennis level, I was really impressed with it, he managed the match extremely well. But my level is a different level to Charly (Carlos Alcaraz) and to (Jannik) Sinner, and to do that back to back is a different kind of challenge.
Cam Norrie believes that Novak Djokovic is capable of securing Grand Slam No 25
Norrie was hugely impressed by the way in which Djokovic served against him
‘Physically is the main thing. Depends on how he’s feeling after this match. He stopped the match for the physio, he was calling the doctor . . . I’m not sure.’
Having had treatment for a very large and very gruesome blister on his big toe in the first round, Djokovic called the physio in this match to manipulate his lower back and provide painkillers.
‘I made a quick move and felt the left side of my back,’ said Djokovic. ‘I finished that game, and I just felt like I needed treatment.
‘I told Cameron at the net… I don’t know if he thinks I was doing that on purpose to bother him, because it absolutely was not my intention. I felt better after that, when the meds kicked in. When it gets cold tomorrow, I’ll see what the reality is.’
Djokovic, asked later, on ESPN, whether he was concerned about his physical condition, replied: ‘Honestly I am concerned. There is more concern than I have ever had, even though I am meticulous with the care for my body.
‘I put in a lot of hours on and off the court to make sure that my body is fit and recovered well. But you know age is age, you can’t fight that.’
The 24-time Grand Slam champion — four of those here in New York — has made the semi-finals of each of this year’s majors. In Australia he had a titanic win over Alcaraz before retiring against Alexander Zverev with a muscle tear. He was beaten in straight sets by Sinner at the French Open and at Wimbledon, where was hampered by a groin injury.
Djokovic still feels he can compete with the top two if he is at his best; his great frustration is that by the time he runs into them at a Grand Slam, his body will not allow him to be at his best.
Djokovic still feels he can compete with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner if he is at his best
There are two reasons why this time might be different; why he might be able to arrive at a semi-final meeting with Sinner carrying fewer miles in his legs, fewer aches in his bones. First, the potency of his serving. One of the most underrated aspects of his game in the second half of his career, his serve was red-hot against Norrie, delivering 18 aces. Ten of his service games were held to love.
Secondly, his draw. Having beaten Norrie for a seventh time out of seven, on Sunday Djokovic faces German Jan-Lennard Struff — he is seven from seven against him, too. In the quarters it would likely be American No1 Taylor Fritz, whom he has never lost to in 10 meetings.
Of course, these guys will know Djokovic is as vulnerable as he has ever been — but layer upon layer of scar tissue will be telling their subconscious a different story.
