NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic is 38 and trying to conquer a younger man’s game as he heads into the U.S. Open semifinals Friday. It’s been two years since his most recent Grand Slam title, which — to him — must feel like an eternity.
Last season was his first without earning at least one major championship since 2017. And the Serbian star is clear that, at this point in his tennis career, those big trophies from the sport’s four biggest events are all he really cares about.
At this year’s three other major tournaments, he exited in the semifinals, two after getting hurt: quitting at the hard-court Australian Open because of a torn hamstring and clearly limited on the grass of Wimbledon by an injured groin muscle. He hadn’t competed anywhere since leaving the All England Club in July until arriving at Flushing Meadows two weeks ago.
Now he is back in the final four on the hard courts of New York, and there’s a daunting road ahead. Next up is No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, who is 22. Win that, and a final on Sunday against No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy, 24, could await, if the reigning champion beats 25th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian player, in Friday’s second semifinal.
Sinner defeated fellow Italian player Lorenzo Musetti, who was seeded 10th, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.