Can Norrie Test Djokovic's 'vulnerability'?

US Open 2025

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September

Coverage: Live power commentaries crossed 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, positive unrecorded matter commentaries connected nan BBC Sport website & app

How do you lick a problem for illustration Novak Djokovic?

It is simply a mobility hundreds of players person asked themselves complete nan past 2 decades - and galore person ne'er been capable to reply it.

Cameron Norrie tin count himself among that number.

The 29-year-old Briton goes into their US Open third-round gathering connected Friday having mislaid each six of his erstwhile meetings pinch nan 24-time Grand Slam champion.

With Djokovic looking flustered successful his first 2 rounds successful New York, Norrie hopes he tin use from nan effects of clip connected nan 38-year-old Serb.

"The chances are getting amended arsenic nan years agone connected - though not by much," said Norrie, who is classed 35th successful nan world.

"The level he brings and nan competitiveness he brings is crazy. Every clip I've played him he changes strategies and makes it difficult.

"I'm fresh for thing - him playing unreal, aliases him not playing awesome and stopping nan lucifer for something, past playing good."

Djokovic looked unsteady connected his feet successful humid conditions during his first-round win complete Learner Tien and needed curen for a blister connected his toe.

Seventh seed Djokovic had not played for six weeks earlier nan US Open and showed much signs of rustiness connected Wednesday, dropping a group against American qualifier Zachary Svajda.

It is ever vulnerable to propose Djokovic looks vulnerable, and Norrie is surely wary.

But Norrie's marque of tennis - trying to make things beingness and resistance Djokovic into an energy-sapping scrap - could beryllium cardinal if nan erstwhile world number 8 is to threat his losing streak against nan Serb great.

""I will person to hit him pinch physicality," said Norrie, who showed his ain endurance instincts successful a four-set conflict against Argentina's Francisco Comesana connected Wednesday.

"I did spot nan blister but he's nan king of adversity. He fights and pushes done it.

"I'm not going to beryllium a servebot and service him disconnected nan court."

Lopsided head-to-head records are not different against Djokovic, fixed he is wide regarded arsenic nan top subordinate successful nan history of nan game.

Take Gael Monfils. The 38-year-old French entertainer, a erstwhile world number six and 1 of nan astir talented shot-makers of his generation, has a 20-0 losing grounds against Djokovic - nan worst head-to-head grounds successful ATP Tour history.

Norrie, a laid-back characteristic disconnected nan court, does not look to go occupied by his mediocre record.

Instead he is continuing to attraction connected enjoying life connected nan circuit - a vow he made to his squad aft reaching a crossroads successful his profession earlier this year.

Since past he has reached nan French Open 4th information - wherever he mislaid to Djokovic - and nan Wimbledon quarter-finals.

In New York, he has spent clip "people watching" astatine regular dinners successful nan East Village neighbourhood arsenic he bids for a heavy US Open run.

"Focusing connected enjoyment is what has worked for me," Norrie added.

"I'm truthful happy to beryllium pinch my team, enjoying New York and having a ace 1 of nan champion players successful history."