Novak Djokovic, fueled by his emotional victory at the Olympic Games, sets his sights on breaking new Grand Slam records at the US Open starting Monday, while his title rival Jannik Sinner arrives in New York amid controversy over two positive drug tests. Djokovic, the defending champion, has the chance to become the oldest Open era champion at the tournament by securing a fifth title, tying the record held by Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer. At 37, he could also reach 25 Grand Slam victories, surpassing the 24 he currently shares with Margaret Court.
The final major of the year is crucial for Djokovic, who this year saw Sinner take his Australian Open title and his world number one ranking. Carlos Alcaraz also claimed Djokovic's French Open title and dominated him in a one-sided Wimbledon final. However, Djokovic bounced back on the clay courts of Roland Garros to defeat Alcaraz in the Olympic final. His tearful win in Paris marked him as only the fifth player to achieve a career Golden Slam of all four majors and Olympic gold, silencing critics who had deemed him past his prime in an era dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz.
Djokovic, who had knee surgery in June, called his Olympic victory his "biggest sporting success," marking his 99th career title. "At 37, facing a 21-year-old who is likely the best player in the world right now, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon consecutively, I consider this my greatest sporting achievement," he asserted. Sinner, meanwhile, arrives at the US Open after winning the Cincinnati Masters, but his victory was overshadowed by news of his clearance from two positive drug tests earlier in the season. He tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic agent banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but avoided a ban after officials accepted his claim of contamination from a team member.
Sinner expressed his intention to move past this challenging period, while Australian player Nick Kyrgios called the clearance "ridiculous." Alcaraz, who won his first major at the US Open in 2022, was deeply affected by his Olympic final loss to Djokovic, feeling he had let Spain down. His preparation for New York was further hindered by a second-round exit in Cincinnati, where he lost his composure and smashed his racquet. He labeled the defeat the "worst match" of his career. Other contenders like Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz could disrupt the favorites' chances, with Medvedev, a former US Open champion, potentially denying Alcaraz and Djokovic another title in New York.
