Djokovic started the match nearly flawlessly, dropping only two points on serve and hitting 17 winners in the first set. However, his physical condition was tested late in the set with back pain following a difficult volley. Before serving out the set at 6-4, Djokovic left the court for treatment from ATP trainer Clay Sniteman.

"I'm all good," Djokovic said in his post-match interview. "You have your ups and downs… but you don't want to reveal too much to your opponents about this. They might be watching this interview. I’m still the same, still young, still strong. It's New York, and if there’s any pain, the energy in the stadium will carry you through."

Djokovic experiences back pain during his match against Norrie in the third round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York on 27/8. Photo: Reuters

Djokovic experiences back pain during his match against Norrie in the third round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York on 27/8. Photo: Reuters

At the beginning of the second set, Djokovic received further brief treatment during the first changeover. From that point on, he appeared to have no further issues for the remainder of the match. Norrie presented a challenge for Djokovic, particularly in the second set when the British player saved three break points from 0-40 down to hold serve in the seventh game and force a tie-break. In what is typically Djokovic’s domain, Norrie won four points on Djokovic’s serve to win the tie-break 7-4.

Despite his less flashy style, Norrie capitalized on opportunities to hit 44 winners, only seven fewer than Djokovic. He also kept his unforced errors low, with 34 compared to Djokovic's 31. However, the key difference was Djokovic’s ability to raise his game at crucial moments, winning the opening return games of both the third and fourth sets and consolidating those advantages with strong serving and net play. Djokovic finished with 18 aces and 51 winners, his best statistics at Flushing Meadows so far.

"Probably served the best I’ve served in the tournament so far," Djokovic added. "It's one of the most important shots in tennis. In these moments, I’m really pleased with the way I’m executing it."

In the fourth round, Djokovic will face Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated 2024 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7). Despite having to play through qualifying, Struff has caused an upset by beating 11th seed Holger Rune in five sets in the second round. The German player’s aggressive attacking style promises to present another challenge for Djokovic on his path to the quarterfinals.

Vy Anh