Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 7, sent a bold message to younger rivals like Alex de Minaur, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner after a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 win over Cameron Norrie in the third round of the US Open 2025 on August 29, 2025, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite ongoing medical issues, including a mid-match locker room exit for hip and back treatment, Djokovic declared, “I am as fresh as ever. To the rivals watching, I’m young as ever” (au.news.yahoo.com,). The playful yet defiant comment, delivered with a grin, came amid concerns for Alcaraz, who raised alarms with a wrist issue during a practice session. Here’s a detailed look at Djokovic’s message, the Alcaraz concerns, his performance, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow the US Open, as of 8:48 AM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Djokovic’s Message to de Minaur and Co.
Post-match, Djokovic used his on-court interview to address his younger competitors, including de Minaur, Alcaraz, and Sinner, saying, “It’s all right, you have some ups and downs. You don’t want to reveal too much to the rivals listening. I am as fresh as ever. To the rivals watching, I’m young as ever” (au.news.yahoo.com,). The comment, laced with humor, underscored his confidence despite physical challenges, signaling to the next generation that he remains a formidable force at 38. Djokovic’s words were particularly pointed given his history with de Minaur, whom he faces in the fourth round on August 31, 2025, and their frosty relationship stemming from de Minaur’s 2022 comments on Djokovic’s Australian Open deportation (dailymail.co.uk,).
Djokovic’s message also served as a response to the physical and competitive pressure from younger players. De Minaur, now world No. 6 after overtaking Djokovic in the rankings at Rotterdam in February 2025, has been a rising threat, defeating Djokovic at the 2024 United Cup but losing to him at the 2023 Australian Open and 2025 Wimbledon (au.news.yahoo.com,). Sinner, the world No. 1, and Alcaraz, No. 2, have dominated 2025, with Sinner winning Wimbledon and Alcaraz the French Open, intensifying the challenge to Djokovic’s reign (tennis365.com,).
Concerns for Carlos Alcaraz
The backdrop to Djokovic’s comments was heightened concern for Carlos Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion, who sparked alarm after a practice session on August 28, 2025. Alcaraz, during a session with Jannik Sinner, clutched his right wrist and left the court abruptly, prompting speculation about an injury (X post: @narimene261709,). In his press conference, Alcaraz admitted, “After the third game, I knew something was wrong with Jannik because I know him really well,” referencing Sinner’s ongoing recovery from a hip issue, but deflected questions about his own wrist (au.news.yahoo.com,). No official diagnosis has been confirmed, but Alcaraz’s team downplayed the issue, stating he would play his third-round match against Li Tu on August 30, 2025 (ESPN,).
The concern for Alcaraz, who defeated Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals, amplified the narrative of Djokovic’s resilience. Fans on X expressed worry, with @TheTennisLetter noting, “Carlos doesn’t seem a fan of the practice cams, but that wrist grab looked serious” (). Djokovic’s comment may have been a strategic jab, signaling he’s ready to capitalize on any vulnerabilities among his rivals.
Djokovic’s Performance and Medical Struggles
Djokovic’s win over Norrie was gritty, marked by 18 aces and 44 winners but also by physical struggles. He took a medical timeout in the third set, leaving for the locker room to address hip and back tightness, returning after six minutes to close out the match (The Guardian,). This followed treatment for a blistered toe in his first-round win over Learner Tien and a shaky second-round victory over Zachary Svajda (6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1) (atptour.com,). Djokovic admitted, “I’m still trying to find my rhythm and groove on the court. It’s good that I get tested” (au.news.yahoo.com,).
His 2025 season has been plagued by injuries, including a hamstring tear that ended his Australian Open in the semifinals and a leg issue at Wimbledon (tennis365.com,). Despite these setbacks, Djokovic, the oldest man to reach the US Open fourth round since Jimmy Connors in 1991, remains optimistic, stating, “I’m not at my best physically, but I’m finding ways to win” (ESPN,). His next challenge is de Minaur, against whom he holds a 2-1 head-to-head, including a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win at Wimbledon 2025 (tennishead.net,).
De Minaur’s Form and Rivalry Context
De Minaur, riding a career-high ranking, reached the US Open third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Otto Virtanen, bolstered by a favorable draw after Ben Shelton’s retirement against Adrian Mannarino (au.news.yahoo.com,). His 2025 highlights include reaching the Rotterdam Open final, overtaking Djokovic in the rankings, and a strong Madrid Open run (au.news.yahoo.com,). However, his 0-10 record against Sinner and 0-3 against Alcaraz highlight struggles against the elite, making his match against Djokovic a critical test (au.news.yahoo.com,).
The Djokovic-de Minaur rivalry carries tension from 2022, when de Minaur laughed during a press conference about Djokovic’s deportation from Australia, prompting Djokovic to say post-2023 Australian Open (6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win), “I don’t have any relationship with him” (dailymail.co.uk,). De Minaur later clarified his comments were taken out of context, tweeting, “I hate how media will always create controversy… Got outplayed and outclassed” (@alexdeminaur,).
How to Follow the US Open 2025
Djokovic faces de Minaur in the fourth round on August 31, 2025, with a potential quarterfinal against Taylor Fritz or Jaime Faria. Fans can watch:
- United Kingdom:
- Live Streaming: Amazon Prime Video or Sky Sports.
- TV Broadcast: Sky Sports Tennis (11:00 AM BST).
- 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 defiant message to de Minaur and others, paired with concerns over Alcaraz’s wrist, sets the stage for a dramatic fourth-round clash. His ability to push through injuries—evident in his locker room exit and return—underscores his championship mentality. Fan reactions on X are electric, with @DjokerNole’s post, “Another electric night on Ashe… Few tough moments but NYC your energy got me through” (), rallying support. For updates, visit atptour.com, espn.com, or au.news.yahoo.com, and follow @usopen or @DjokerNole on X. As Djokovic battles his body and rivals, his US Open campaign remains a gripping saga.
