In sport, records are the crown jewels, the echoes that shape its aura and etch its legacy for generations. In tennis, that throne belongs to Novak Djokovic, the master of 24 Grand Slams, his name carved into immortality. And yet, at 38, he still burns for more, chasing the dream of a 25th at the US Open. But the truth of records is eternal: they exist to be broken, in every game, in every era. So as Djokovic nears the twilight of his reign, one question rises: Does he want his records to be broken? Well, he certainly has his say.

On the recent Jay Shetty Podcast, he was asked a simple yet piercing question: in a sport so isolated, so defined by the individual, does he see the next generation learning from him? His answer revealed a truth that only a champion at peace with his mountain of achievements could express. “Naturally, tennis should get better, and we all want tennis to get better, to be better, and I want somebody to break my record in the future or all of the records. Why not? I mean, this is how it should be.” Those words struck like a hymn for sport itself: an acknowledgment that legacy only breathes when the future dares to surpass it.

And yet, saying it is one thing; doing it, quite another. Because Novak Djokovic’s records are not made of dust, they are carved in stone. The question remains: how possible is it for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the bright heirs apparent who have together claimed the last seven Slams, to ever climb the mountain that Djokovic has built? To answer that, one must step back and see the broader canvas: the sweeping empire of numbers and history that the Serbian giant has constructed.

Consider this: along with his 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic boasts a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals crown in Turin, nudging one clear of Federer himself.

That moment in November 2023 wasn’t just a trophy lift: it was a coronation, a statement that he stood alone. Days later, he lifted his 40th ATP Masters 1000 title in Paris, becoming the first man in history to reach that milestone. He ended 2023 as the year-end No. 1 for the eighth time, two ahead of Sampras, adding yet another jewel to his crown. And when he won the US Open in 2023, he tied Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 Slams while extending his record to 37 Slam finals, two beyond the great Chris Evert.

Novak Djokovic’s dominance does not stop there. He remains the only man to hold all four Slams at once since Rod Laver’s 1969 sweep, a feat that cements his place in eternity. He completed the once-thought-impossible Career Golden Masters, conquering all nine ATP Masters events at least once. 

His longevity, too, is unmatched; on 27 February 2023, he logged his 378th week at world No. 1, surpassing every player, male or female, in the history of tennis. These numbers are not just records; they are monuments, towering reminders of a career lived on the edge of perfection.

Even destiny bowed to him in Paris 2024, when he finally claimed the one prize missing from his résumé: Olympic gold. There, he silenced the whispers of incompleteness, defeating Carlos Alcaraz to claim the medal that had eluded him for decades. 

It was the moment his career felt truly infinite, as though he had rewritten the rules of what a man in his late thirties could achieve. Then, on 23 May 2025, he etched yet another name into the scroll of eternity by becoming only the third man in Open Era history, after Connors and Federer, to claim his 100th ATP Tour title in Geneva.

Massive? Absolutely. But also almost unthinkable to replicate. To topple Novak Djokovic’s fortress of numbers, the new generation will need not just talent, but time, steel, and a ruthless hunger that does not blink. 

For now, Sinner and Alcaraz may roar, but Djokovic remains the mountain itself, unshaken. Records, as he himself admitted, are meant to be broken, but some stand so tall that breaking them feels less like destiny and more like mythology.

And as the 2025 US Open unfolds, Djokovic is not done singing his song. At 38, he strides into Flushing Meadows with a familiar fire, chasing yet another chapter, yet another feather for his crown. The dream of 25 slams burns before him, and if his past has taught us anything, it is this: when Djokovic sets his eyes on history, history tends to bow. 

The king still reigns, the story still unfolds, and the world still watches in awe.

Novak Djokovic opens up after his win against Learner Tien

Djokovic’s US Open journey began with more grit than grace, as the 24-time Grand Slam champion scraped through a scratchy opening-round clash. Under the lights of Flushing Meadows, he overcame 18-year-old American Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 in his first match in over six weeks. 

The scoreboard may suggest comfort, but the contest revealed otherwise. Djokovic’s footwork faltered, his balance wavered, and in the second set alone, his racquet spilled 20 unforced errors.

Yet, champions are forged in the fire of resistance. When Tien grew bold midway through the second set, Novak Djokovic stood firm, absorbing the storm before striking back. His resilience in the tie-break proved decisive, tilting the match on its axis and breaking the teenager’s spirit. From there, the Serbian’s authority returned, allowing him to reclaim rhythm and close the night with poise and power.

“It was a strange kind of match. The first set was 20 minutes and then the second one was one hour and 20, so quite the opposite sets we played,” Djokovic admitted. “It was key for me to hold my nerves in the second set and clinch it in a tie-break. After that I started feeling better. I can always do better but it’s a great way to start this year’s campaign.”

With victory secured, Novak Djokovic now sets his sights on Wednesday’s clash against American qualifier Zachary Svajda. Is he ready to overcome the American challenge and push deeper into the tournament?

And for every scoreline, every twist, and every turn of his chase for a 25th Slam, follow the live blog on EssentiallySports.