Djokovic Misses Child's Birthday, Reaches US Open Quarterfinals

Competing in the professional tennis arena at the age of 38, Novak Djokovic cannot count the remaining journey of his career until the time of retirement arrives. Therefore, Djokovic always exerts everything he has when competing, even if it means sacrificing time away from his family.

The sacrifice is not only made by Djokovic but also by his family. His daughter, Tara, will celebrate her eighth birthday on September 2 without her father's presence.

The victory over Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) in the fourth round of the US Open tournament at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Sunday (31/8/2025) evening or Monday (1/9/2025) afternoon Indonesian time, requires Djokovic to remain in the US. After defeating Struff with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, Djokovic will face the home player, Taylor Fritz, in the quarterfinals, coinciding with Tara's birthday.

Djokovic's two children, Stefan (10) and Tara, usually accompany their father at major tournaments. Stefan, who already plays tennis, often joins his father for practice sessions. They are always present in the players' box, even when Djokovic competes late into the night. However, Tara and Stefan have not been seen at Flushing Meadows this year.

Before the US Open begins on August 24, Djokovic cannot predict whether he will be by Tara's side for her birthday or still have to stay in New York. "Yes, in the end, she will not be happy that I will be absent from the birthday party. I will send a nice gift, as well as a surprise for her party. Please, do not remind me again about that moment," Djokovic said with mixed feelings.

Like all professional tennis players, Djokovic spends more time traveling around the world each year than gathering with his family. He owns homes in several locations, such as Monaco and Spain, in addition to his birthplace, Serbia. However, he more frequently travels with his team.

At the age of 38, Djokovic is limiting his participation in tournaments. In the professional tennis arena, players over 30 years old have a reduction in the number of "mandatory tournaments" they must participate in. Therefore, senior players are more selective in choosing tournaments, based on their physical condition and individual targets.

In 2025, Djokovic competed in 11 cities across eight countries, including participating in the US Open. Younger players are participating in tournaments in more cities, such as Holger Rune (22 years old) who has already visited 16 cities in 12 countries. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton competed in tournaments held in 19 cities (12 countries).

I'm not a serve-and-volley type of player. However, when needed, I can do that. - Novak Djokovic -

His competitors are younger tennis players who are up to half his age. They can move faster and have better endurance. Djokovic, ranked seventh in the world, is even the oldest among the top 40 players.

However, when on the field, he can compensate for that shortcoming with motivation. "I want to win every time I am here. At the very least, I strive to win. Moreover, I do not know how much ability I have left. Therefore, every match is a special moment," said Djokovic on the official ATP website.

In the four rounds that have taken place at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic's performance remains superior to that of many tennis players. When facing Struff, Djokovic dominated the game from the opening game. Although he received treatment from a physiotherapist several times for his neck and right shoulder as well as his right wrist, Djokovic was still able to find a way to score points.

Thirty-eight of his 48 first serves (79 percent) resulted in points, including 12 aces. His aggressive approach to the net was also effective. He won 15 points out of 18 attempts. In total, Djokovic had 33 winners, while Struff only managed 19.

"I am not a tennis player with a serve-and-volley style. However, when needed, I can do that. The point is, a good serve is very helpful, and I had a good percentage on my serve in today's match, as well as in the previous round," said Djokovic in an interview with former US player James Blake, in front of the audience at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The quarterfinal match against Fritz marks the 64th Grand Slam appearance for Djokovic. He still maintains the opportunity to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals and even has a chance to secure his 25th Grand Slam title. However, before that, Djokovic must first face Taylor Fritz.

Djokovic has always won in ten encounters with Fritz, who defeated Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round. Fritz, ranked fourth in the world, has only managed to win three out of 26 sets against Djokovic.

Nevertheless, in the world of sports, there is always a principle that each match brings a new atmosphere. Athletes must not rely solely on the statistics of previous encounters.

Djokovic will face a match that has the potential to present difficult challenges with the principle he has always upheld. "In recent years, I have learned to take on challenges one at a time," he said. (reuters)