Before the second round match at the US Open, Novak Djokovic faced Bernabé Zapata Miralles, who had already delivered a highly precise read on his opponent. It felt as if Zapata had handed a verdict: sheer machine. Two hours after their first meeting, the Valencia-born player and the audience reaffirmed that assessment. Djokovic, holder of 23 major titles, overwhelmed Zapata’s attempts to respond with relentless shot-making. From Belgrade to New York, Djokovic showed why he is a formidable force, leaving Zapata’s challenge far behind in the early rounds as the Spaniard pushed to the limit on a night where the world watched his resilience. Zapata advanced to the third round, where he would meet Laslo Djere, a 38th-ranked player in the world.
Zapata entered the match with force, ambition, and a series of heavy strokes. He earned two break chances early in the second game, flashing the tools necessary to seize momentum. Yet opportunities against a champion like Djokovic are precious and brief. The Serbian star answered every assault, absorbing pressure and redirecting it with pinpoint accuracy, restoring balance, and proving why he often dictates the tempo of a match.
After a tightly contested first set, Djokovic increased the pace, pressing with intensity. He closed out 6-4, then dominated 6-1 in the second, and carried that momentum into the third set. Zapata, like many before him, found the top tier a difficult barrier to breach, and the result reflected Djokovic’s consistent level across the match.
“I act well for an older player”
At the foot of the court, Djokovic pressed on, chasing a fourth New York title and a historic 24th major that would tie him with Margaret Court for the all-time record. He suggested there was still room for improvement in this tournament and reminded everyone of his daily refrain: despite turning 36, he carries a hunger to perform at his peak.
Ten years earlier, when asked whether today’s Djokovic might be beaten, the answer was that he did not want to compete with himself but rather with the opponent he faced most in every match. Reflecting on what has changed, he emphasized energy management, the instinct to protect it, and the ability to read situations—knowing what to do and when. He joked that movement might feel more explosive in youth, but the current version still has its own sharpness. He quipped that he moves well for an elder, a lighthearted remark that underscored his lasting athletic condition.
Djokovic’s potential path to the final was challenged by Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had reached the New York semifinals earlier in the year but then encountered a surprising obstacle. In a heavyweight upset, Tsitsipas was eliminated by Dominic Stricker, a Swiss player ranked 128th in the world, after a lengthy four-set duel that stretched the Swiss to the edge of a five-set finish.
The Open field also saw its share of dramatic exits. Two Spanish players struck significant blows in the early rounds: Rebeka Masarova overcame Maria Sakkari, while on a later day Anna Karolína Schmiedlová bowed Slovakia’s path with a straight-sets win. Sara Sorribes was defeated by Chinese opponent Xinyu Wang in three sets, with scores that reflected a competitive and tightly contested contest supply across court surfaces.