{"id":2049473,"date":"2026-07-18T08:15:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T05:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2049473"},"modified":"2026-07-18T08:15:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T05:15:53","slug":"novak-djokovic-gives-telling-answer-as-he-reveals-his-biggest-competition-for-us-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2049473","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic gives telling answer as he reveals his &#8216;biggest competition&#8217; for US Open"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Novak Djokovic gives telling answer as he reveals his \u2018biggest competition\u2019 for US Open<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"18 Jul 2026 9:15 AM\" data-ps-date=\"18 Jul 2026 9:15 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1784362553\"><br \/>\n                            18 Jul 2026 9:15 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                       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space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Novak Djokovic gives telling answer as he reveals his \u2018biggest competition\u2019 for US Open\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Novak-Djokovic-speaks-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Novak Djokovic speaks in New York\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Novak Djokovic speaks at a press conference                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Novak Djokovic<\/a> gave a revealing answer when asked to identify his \u201cbiggest competition\u201d as he looked ahead to the 2026 US Open.<\/p>\n<p>At the age of 39, Djokovic will aim to become the oldest Grand Slam singles champion in tennis history at this year\u2019s US Open, which will begin on 30 August.<\/p>\n<p>The legendary Serb has won more Grand Slam titles than any other man, with his 24th and most recent major coming at the 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/us-open\">US Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> is a four-time US Open champion, having also triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2011, 2015 and 2018.<\/p>\n<p>The world No 7 was beaten by world No 1 and eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Wimbledon earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=z8AIv_P6-r4\" target=\"_blank\">CBS Mornings<\/a>, Djokovic was asked who his biggest competition will be at the final Grand Slam of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMyself, always (smiles),\u201d Djokovic replied.<\/p>\n<h2>More Novak Djokovic News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/novak-djokovic-longevity-mark-philippoussis-exclusive-interview\"><strong>Exclusive: Mark Philippoussis puts what Novak Djokovic is doing into perspective with revealing comments<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/novak-djokovic-feels-something-prove-39\"><strong>Novak Djokovic explains why he still feels he has something to prove at 39<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUS Open is one of the four Slams. It\u2019s the most, I think, entertaining; most exciting Grand Slam. The biggest stadium in our sport: Arthur Ashe. Can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the biggest things of why I still compete is the energy of the crowd and the appreciation and respect that I\u2019ve been getting \u2014 particularly in the last several years \u2014 around the world, is something I\u2026 cannot thank people enough. It matters a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic was also asked about the importance of his wife Jelena, and his children Stefan and Tara, at this stage of his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy wife has been a rock, she has been so supportive. It would be very difficult to do what I do \u2014 still be able to do what I do \u2014 without her support and her keeping the household,\u201d said Djokovic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd also emotionally dealing with our children, and after I leave them, and the absence, missing out on some important dates and events in their life\u2026 it\u2019s hard. And she continues to support me to live my dream.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I also want to balance it out now. That\u2019s why I don\u2019t play as much as I used to, because I want to be the best husband, father, brother, son that I could possibly be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/novak-djokovic-grand-slam-dream-over\">Novak Djokovic told his last big tennis dream is over \u2013 can he defy his doubters again?<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novak Djokovic gives telling answer as he reveals his \u2018biggest competition\u2019 for US Open Ewan West 18 Jul 2026 9:15 AM Novak Djokovic speaks at a press conference Novak Djokovic gave a revealing answer when asked to identify his \u201cbiggest competition\u201d as he looked ahead to the 2026 US Open. At the age of 39, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2049473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2049473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2049473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2049473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2049473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}