Djokovic chases record at US Open start
The US Open begins with Novak Djokovic chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title and Jessica Pegula aiming for her first.
The 146th US Open begins on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic continuing his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Former finalist Jessica Pegula also launches her bid for a maiden major victory.
Two-time champion Venus Williams will make her 26th appearance in the main draw. Marta Kostyuk, a semi-finalist at the last two majors, aims to carry that momentum into the year's final Grand Slam event.
Djokovic Defies Retirement Talk
Ranked fifth in the world, the 39-year-old Djokovic remains defiant in his pursuit of the all-time record. He shrugged off retirement talk in a documentary released this month. "I know a lot of people are retiring me already, for many years," Djokovic said. "Why would you want me to retire when I am still playing and competing at the highest level?"
Since winning the US Open in 2023, Djokovic has reached two Grand Slam finals and six semi-finals. The elusive 25th trophy would move him past Margaret Court for the most majors in tennis history. He reached the Australian Open final this year and the Wimbledon semi-finals in July. "For 99 per cent of the players, that would be a very good Grand Slam result. For me, it's good but not good enough," he said after Wimbledon.
Pegula Seeks Breakthrough
Jessica Pegula's closest run to a Grand Slam title came at the 2024 US Open, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka knocked her out in the semi-finals last year. "I always feel like I'm close," Pegula said after that 2023 exit. "I feel like I'm always right there every time I play them."
The 32-year-old American has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the quarters at Wimbledon this season. She also made the finals of the Washington and Cincinnati Opens ahead of Flushing Meadows. Pegula is not dwelling on past defeats. "You just kind of have to wipe it and move on," she said ahead of her 10th main draw appearance.
Kostyuk's Momentum
Marta Kostyuk made her Grand Slam main draw debut in 2018 but has hit her stride this year. The 24-year-old Ukrainian reached the semi-finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon. She holds a career-best world ranking of 11th entering the US Open.
"I want to cherish this moment," Kostyuk said after her Wimbledon loss to champion Linda Noskova. "You don’t know how your life is going to look tomorrow." She begins her campaign on the Grandstand court against Australia's Storm Hunter.
Sunday's Order of Play
The opening day's schedule at Arthur Ashe Stadium features key matches starting at 1600 GMT. The full order of play is as follows:
| Court | Match (Seed) Player vs. Player |
|---|---|
| Arthur Ashe Stadium | 3-Jessica Pegula (U.S.) v Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Romania) |
| Arthur Ashe Stadium | 7-Daniil Medvedev (Russia) v Hugo Gaston (France) |
| Arthur Ashe Stadium | 4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Mariano Navone (Argentina) |
| Arthur Ashe Stadium | Venus Williams (U.S.) v Sofia Kenin (U.S.) |
| Louis Armstrong Stadium | 19-Jasmine Paolini (Italy) v Veronika Erjavec (Slovenia) |
| Louis Armstrong Stadium | Coleman Wong (Hong Kong) v 20-Tommy Paul (U.S.) |
| Louis Armstrong Stadium | 9-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Solana Sierra (Argentina) |
| Louis Armstrong Stadium | 15-Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) v J.J. Wolf (U.S.) |
Fans can check the latest fixtures and player stats as the tournament progresses.
