The reason why Novak Djokovic was angry with US Open organizers over one decision they made this year

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Novak Djokovic was left frustrated at this year’s US Open tournament.

Looking for Grand Slam title number 25, Djokovic defeated the likes of Learner Tien, Cameron Norrie, and Taylor Fritz en route to the semifinals.

After losing his first three major semis of the year, the Serb was hoping to qualify for his first final of 2025 at the US Open.

Unfortunately, youth prevailed once more, as Carlos Alcaraz, the eventual champion, defeated Djokovic in straight sets.

Djokovic was bitterly disappointed with the defeat, but it has now been suggested that he may have been even more frustrated with what happened earlier in the tournament.

Novak Djokovic was ‘not happy’ with US Open organizers for scheduling him at 11 am

Appearing as a guest on ‘The Tennis’ podcast, Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, Nicole Pratt, explained why Djokovic was frustrated with US Open organizers in 2025.

“The schedule came out, he was first on at 11,” she said.

“He’d never been first on in 15 years, let me tell you, he was not happy.

“He was not happy, and if you talk about managing energy levels, and he’s to the nth degree on everything, and so calculated, that would have thrown him for six.”

Djokovic was scheduled first on in the second round, playing home-favorite Zachary Svajda at 11.30 am.

Order of play – 2025 US Open day four (Arthur Ashe Stadium)

• 1. Novak Djokovic defeated Zachary Svajda
• 2. Jessica Pegula defeated Anna Blinkova
• 3. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Mattia Bellucci
• 4. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Polina Kudermetova

Normal service soon resumed; however, as Djokovic played during the evening for the remainder of the tournament, except for his semifinal defeat to Alcaraz.

Pratt proceeded to comment on Djokovic’s post-match press conference after his defeat to Alcaraz, where he suggested the world number one and two were simply too good.

“It was very real, and almost humbling, right?” she said.

“Normally, he’s the guy holding the trophy at the end of the Grand Slam, and now he’s almost conceding the fact that there are just two guys better than him.

“There was one little thing there, where he said for two sets I can go with him, but then the third, I’ve got nothing.”

Pratt suggested that if that is true, then Djokovic should ‘flip’ his schedule around in 2026.

“It’s interesting, because he’s played all of the Slams, but he hasn’t played the Master 1000s, and the 1000s are best of three sets,” she said.

“So I’d actually like to see a bit of a flip next year. If you think physically you can’t match up for five sets, play the best of three.”

For Djokovic, however, the target is still to win that elusive 25th major title, and another top coach still believes he has it in him.

Nick Kyrgios’ former coach is not willing to count out Novak Djokovic winning a 25th Grand Slam

Weighing in with his thoughts, Nick Kyrgios’ former coach, Simon Rea, shared whether he believes Djokovic can win another major title.

“I’m not willing to count him out, it looks unlikely, doesn’t it?” he admitted.

“But that assumes those two, the big two, [Carlos Alcaraz/Jannik Sinner] are going to be there, healthy, at the business end of every Grand Slam.

“Something will happen, there will be a window, whether he is the one to walk through it remains to be seen, but I’m not willing to count him out.

“He’ll be at the business end; he’s ranked number four in the world.”

For the past 24 months, Sinner and Alcaraz have had a stranglehold on the Grand Slam tournaments, sharing the last eight amongst themselves.

However, as Rea mentioned, there will surely be a time in the not-so-distant future where either Sinner or Alcaraz slips up at a Grand Slam.

When the likes of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer dominated major tournaments for several years, there were a select few who stepped up to briefly insert themselves into the picture.

The likes of Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, and Stan Wawrinka all won Grand Slam titles during the era of the ‘big three’.

Only time will tell if Djokovic can do the same to clinch his 25th major title.

Djokovic will likely return to Grand Slam action at the 2026 Australian Open, which begins on Monday, January 12.