Unrelenting Djokovic refuses to give up on record major dream as US Open begins

The 146th US Open tournament commences this Sunday, featuring former finalist and home favorite Jessica Pegula in her quest for the first Grand Slam victory of her career. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic persists in his pursuit of his record 25th major title. Venus Williams, a two-time champion, will compete in her 26th main draw match, while rising star Marta Kostyuk aims to leverage her recent success to make a significant impact at the final Grand Slam of the year.

In the top men's match, Djokovic faces Mariano Navone. Since claiming the US Open title in 2023, Djokovic has advanced to two Grand Slam finals and six semi-finals but has yet to clinch the elusive 25th major trophy, which would surpass Margaret Court's record and make him the most successful player in tennis history. Nonetheless, the 39-year-old, currently ranked fifth in the world, remains resolute in his ambition, dismissing retirement suggestions in a recent documentary about his life.

"Different people are already writing me off, for many years," he remarked. "Why would you want me to retire when I am still playing and competing at the highest level? I am still in the top-five or top-10 in the world. Why talk about retirement when I am proving to myself that I can still win?"

Last season, Djokovic exited in the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams. However, he advanced to the Australian Open final and reached the last four at Wimbledon this year. Djokovic expressed his satisfaction with these achievements but remained hungry for more, stating, "For 99% of the players, that would be a very good Grand Slam result. For me, it's good but not good enough, because I am blessed and cursed to be used to something of the highest degree in terms of results and achievements."

On the women's side, Jessica Pegula enters the tournament with a target on her back. Her closest Grand Slam final appearance came on home soil in 2024 when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final. The previous year, she battled Sabalenka to the semi-finals in New York before losing again in the semi-finals. Pegula acknowledged her consistent near-misses, stating, "I always feel like I am close. I always feel I can go out, and I can beat these girls."

This year, Pegula reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and US Open quarters, as well as the finals of the Washington Open and Cincinnati Open. She aims to build on this momentum in her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2024. Pegula emphasized the importance of moving forward, saying, "You just kind of have to wipe it and move on and move forward and keep working on some stuff that I want to get better at."

Kostyuk, who made her Grand Slam main draw debut in 2018, has finally reached the peak of her form. She reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, securing an 11th-place ranking in the world. Kostyuk expressed her gratitude for her recent opportunities and the potential for greater success at the US Open.

"Cherishing this moment is vital. We all want to appreciate how far we have come, me and my team," the 24-year-old Ukrainian said after her Wimbledon exit. "You never know what life holds tomorrow or today. Hopefully, I will get more opportunities, but you never know if you will."