Novak Djokovic breaks Roger Federer’s record for most career wins at hard-court Grand Slams

Novak Djokovic has a lot of records on his career resume, and at the US Open on Friday night he added yet another one.

With a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Cam Norrie in the third round in Flushing Meadows, he recorded his 192nd career win at a hard-court Grand Slam, breaking Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record.

For historical context, the US Open has been played on hard courts since 1978, and the Australian Open joined them in 1988.

MOST CAREER WINS AT HARD-COURT GRAND SLAMS (men, all-time):

• 192: Novak Djokovic [192-24]
• 191: Roger Federer [191-29]
• 144: Rafael Nadal [144-28]

And that’s not all.

Djokovic has also tied Federer for another record—the most fourth-round appearances at Grand Slams for a man in the Open Era.

MOST CAREER FOURTH ROUNDS GRAND SLAMS (men, Open Era):

• 69: Roger Federer
• 69: Novak Djokovic
• 54: Rafael Nadal

After a relatively uncomplicated first set on Friday night, breaking in the seventh game of the match en route to clinching the opening frame, Djokovic looked like he was about to start cruising to a straight-set victory in the second set, not only bringing up triple break point with Norrie serving at 3-all, 0-40, but—after missing out on those opportunities—also moving ahead 3-1 in the tie-break.

Norrie came alive at that moment, though, winning six of the next seven points to sneak out the breaker and even the match up at a set apiece—he then broke Djokovic in the first game of the third set, as an upset started looking more and more like a possibility.

But it wasn't to be, as Djokovic not only broke right back in the next game, but ended up winning the next four games in a row to re-take control of the match, eventually closing out the third set, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set and cruising to victory from there.

"Particularly third and fourth kind of started swinging through the ball a bit more," Djokovic said after the match. "And honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with Norrie's level. I think he was playing really aggressive. I was not used to him playing so close to the line and just really taking the ball early, particularly on the forehand side.

"Credit to him for fighting and playing some really good level, particularly in the second set and beginning of the third. But I guess when it mattered, I came up with some really good points, good shots, good serves. Serving performance definitely the best so far.

"Yeah, these kind of matches and performances always give me hope that I can go far, challenge the best players in the world."

Awaiting the No. 7-seeded Djokovic in the fourth round will be one of the giant-killers of the tournament, Jan-Lennard Struff, a former No. 21 who's currently ranked No. 144, came through the qualifying and has taken out No. 11 seed Holger Rune and No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time.

It's his third time reaching the fourth round of any Grand Slam tournament, having gotten this far at Roland Garros in 2019 and 2021.

The wins will only get harder for the German on Sunday, though, as he faces Djokovic, against whom he's 0-7—and an even more daunting 1-17 in sets. They've met once before at the US Open, with the Serb prevailing in the third round in 2020, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.