Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 7, faced ongoing physical challenges during his third-round match at the US Open 2025 on August 29, 2025, leaving the court for the locker room during a medical timeout in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Cameron Norrie at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 38-year-old Serbian, already battling concerns over a thigh issue and a blistered toe, appeared to struggle with discomfort in his right hip and lower back, prompting a brief exit for treatment. Despite these setbacks, Djokovic advanced to the fourth round, keeping his pursuit of a record-extending 25th major alive. Here’s a detailed look at his medical struggles, performance, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow his journey, as of 1:53 AM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Djokovic’s Locker Room Exit: Medical Woes Continue
During the third set against Norrie, Djokovic took a medical timeout after the fourth game, leaving the court for the locker room with ATP physio Clay Sniteman to address discomfort in his right hip and lower back. ESPN cameras captured him grimacing and stretching between points, with commentators noting he appeared to favor his right leg (ESPN,). Djokovic returned after approximately six minutes, receiving treatment for a bloodied blister on his right big toe—previously addressed in his first-round win over Learner Tien—and re-taped his foot (The Guardian,). Post-match, he downplayed the severity, stating, “It’s nothing major. Just some tightness in the hip and back. I needed a quick reset in the locker room to loosen up. I’m okay, just managing it” (ATP Tour,).
These issues follow a troubling pattern in 2025. A video from a Montenegro training session in mid-August showed Djokovic receiving physiotherapy for a thigh issue, sparking concerns about his US Open readiness (tennis365.com,). He withdrew from the Canadian Open due to an unspecified injury and skipped Cincinnati for non-medical reasons, citing family time (atptour.com,). Earlier, a hamstring tear forced him to retire in the Australian Open semifinals against Alexander Zverev, and he struggled with a leg issue during a Wimbledon semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner (tennis365.com,). Djokovic admitted post-match, “I’m not at my best physically, but I’m finding ways to win. Hopefully, I can get stronger as the tournament goes” (ESPN,).
US Open 2025: Grit Over Form
Djokovic’s third-round win over Norrie, ranked No. 34, was a testament to his resilience despite subpar form. He started strongly, breaking Norrie’s serve in the first set with just four unforced errors, but his movement appeared labored in the second set, with 12 unforced errors and visible discomfort (atptour.com,). Norrie, who upset Djokovic at the 2023 French Open, pushed him in long rallies, but Djokovic’s experience prevailed, clinching the match with a decisive break in the third set. “It wasn’t my best tennis, but I’m still here. That’s what matters,” he said (BBC Sport,).
His earlier rounds were equally challenging. In the first round against Tien, Djokovic struggled physically, committing 20 unforced errors in the second set and requiring treatment for his toe blister (atptour.com,). Against Zachary Svajda in the second round, he dropped the first set but rallied for a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win, again showing physical strain (espn.com,). Now 28-9 on the season, Djokovic has reached the fourth round at a major for a record 75th time, surpassing Roger Federer, but he’s yet to reach a 2025 Grand Slam final (atptour.com,).
Context: A Season of Injuries
Djokovic’s 2025 has been marred by physical setbacks. A hamstring tear ended his Australian Open campaign, and a leg issue hindered him at Wimbledon, where he noted, “I couldn’t move as freely as I wanted” (tennis365.com,). A concerning video from Montenegro showed him leaning on a court barrier during thigh treatment, and he withdrew from Toronto due to injury (gbnews.com,). Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic, stating, “I’ve had similar injuries recently and managed to come back relatively quickly. I think I can get to an optimal level for the US Open” (tennis365.com,). His next opponent is Jaime Faria, a Portuguese qualifier, in the fourth round on August 31, 2025, with a potential quarterfinal against Taylor Fritz looming (espn.com,).
Fan reactions on X are mixed, with @TennisUpdates25 praising his grit—“Djokovic’s battling through pain like a true champ”—while others express concern, noting, “He’s not moving like himself. Hope he’s okay” (@DjokerFan). John McEnroe, commenting on ESPN, suggested Djokovic’s physical struggles could open the door for Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, stating, “Novak’s fighting his body as much as his opponents right now” (espn.com,).
How to Follow Djokovic’s US Open Journey
Fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can track Djokovic’s progress:
- United Kingdom:
- Live Streaming: Amazon Prime Video or Sky Sports.
- TV Broadcast: Sky Sports Tennis (11:00 AM BST for day sessions).
- Social Media: Follow @SkySportsTennis, @usopen, or @DjokerNole on X.
- Session Times: Day sessions at 11:00 AM BST (12:00 PM WAT), night sessions at 7:00 PM BST (8:00 PM WAT).
- United States:
- Live Streaming: ESPN+ or Peacock.
- TV Broadcast: ESPN or ESPN2 (11:00 AM ET, 7:00 PM ET).
- Social Media: Follow @ESPNTennis or @usopen on X.
- Australia:
- Live Streaming: Stan Sport or 9Now.
- TV Broadcast: Nine Network (1:00 AM AEST for 11:00 AM ET).
- VPN Option: Norton VPN for Stan Sport abroad.
- Nigeria (WAT):
- Live Streaming: SuperSport via DStv Stream or ESPN Africa; check atptour.com.
- Session Times: Day sessions at 4:00 PM WAT, night sessions at 12:00 AM WAT.
- VPN Option: Norton VPN for ESPN+ or Sky Sports via US/UK servers.
Looking Ahead
Djokovic’s locker room exit underscores persistent medical challenges, but his ability to win despite discomfort highlights his legendary resolve. Facing Faria next, he aims to reach the US Open quarterfinals for a potential showdown with Fritz or Ben Shelton. For updates, visit atptour.com, espn.com, or bbc.com, and follow @usopen or @DjokerNole on X for real-time reactions. As Djokovic battles his body and opponents, his quest for a fifth US Open title remains a gripping storyline
