Novak Djokovic needs just one more Grand Slam title to become the player with the most major crowns, man or woman, in history.
Djokovic and Margaret Court are currently tied on 24, with the Serb’s most recent triumph coming at the US Open in 2023, when he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final to match the record.
Since then, he has been in pursuit of number 25 and has come close on several occasions, most notably at Wimbledon last year, where Carlos Alcaraz denied him the feat in the championship match.
Whether he adds more to his tally or not, Djokovic will, at worst, share the legendary record with Court, an accomplishment he didn’t realise he could manage for years.
Novak Djokovic’s words after winning his 24th Grand Slam title
After emerging victorious at Flushing Meadows once again in 2023, Djokovic was asked if there was a moment when he thought to himself that he wanted to target 24 or 25 major titles.
He responded: “I said on the court that my childhood goal was to win Wimbledon and be No. 1 in the world, and when I realised that, then obviously I had to set new goals.
“Because goals are important, you know, to motivate you so that you have clarity in your preparation, in your day-to-day, what you do on a daily, on a weekly basis, in order for you to actually reach the destination where you’re headed. I think that’s super important for every athlete.
“So I was setting new goals higher and higher and higher as my career progressed. But to be honest with you, I was probably not thinking so intensely and concretely about the history of the weeks at No. 1 or most slams until maybe three years ago.
“Then I realised, okay, I’m quite close for weeks in No. 1. I also have a pretty good chance at the Grand Slams if I keep healthy and if I’m playing well.
“Of course, the slams at that point seemed a little bit less reachable than weeks of No. 1, but I believed. I believed that I’d make it.
“I don’t put any number right now in my mind on how many slams I want to win until the end of my career. I don’t really have any number.
“I’ll continue to prioritise them as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. So that will not change.
“That will stay the same in the next season, or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs. So let’s see.”
Novak Djokovic said he ‘mostly’ felt relief after winning his 24th major title
Djokovic said the emotion he felt after winning the US Open that year was: “Relief mostly.
“I didn’t celebrate maybe as I did in Roland Garros, or didn’t fall to the floor or jump out of joy.
“I just, I was so relieved when I saw his forehand in the net. Out of respect, I wanted to go quicker to the net to shake hands and exchange words.
“And then the next thing I wanted was to hug my daughter, because she was there sitting in the front row. I didn’t know that she’s gonna be seated there.
“When I became a father, that was one of my wishes, that I would live the day to experience winning a slam in front of them and they realise what’s going on, that they are old enough to understand what’s going on.
Now 38 years old, Djokovic will enter the US Open for the 19th time, in what could be his last best chance at major number 25.
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