Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of making more history as he heads into the 2024 U.S. Open. Fresh off his remarkable victory at the Paris Olympics, where he completed a career Golden Slam by winning his first Olympic title, the 37-year-old Serb now sets his sights on a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title.
Djokovic, currently ranked third behind Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, will not face either of them unless he reaches the final. As the defending champion at the U.S. Open, Djokovic has the opportunity to break his tie with Margaret Court for the most career Grand Slam singles titles in history. Additionally, a victory at Flushing Meadows would allow him to join tennis legends Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Jimmy Connors as the players with the most U.S. Open men’s singles titles in the professional era, each having five.
Despite his recent success, Djokovic enters the U.S. Open without having played a competitive match since his Olympic triumph over Alcaraz on August 4. However, his experience and proven ability to perform on the big stage make him a formidable contender.
On the other hand, Jannik Sinner, the top seed, heads into the U.S. Open after winning the last major lead-in tournament in Cincinnati. However, Sinner’s journey has been clouded by a recent controversy. It was revealed that Sinner tested positive twice in March for small amounts of the anabolic steroid Clostebol. Despite the positive tests, a tribunal found Sinner to bear no fault or negligence.
Sinner explained that the Clostebol came unintentionally from a physiotherapist who used an over-the-counter spray containing the substance to treat his own skin wound. The physiotherapist, unaware of the risks, gave Sinner daily massages without using gloves. After investigating the situation, both anti-doping officials and a separate tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation, and he was not suspended beyond two provisional suspensions in April, which were lifted after successful appeals.
As the 2024 U.S. Open begins, all eyes will be on Djokovic as he chases another historic milestone. Meanwhile, Sinner, despite his off-court troubles, remains a strong contender to challenge the Serbian star and others in what promises to be an exciting tournament.
