“Same Old” – Novak Djokovic Accused of Disrupting Cameron Norrie’s Rhythm by Taking a Medical Timeout During US Open Third Round

Novak Djokovic will face German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round of the 2025 US Open.

“Same Old” – Novak Djokovic Accused of Disrupting Cameron Norrie’s Rhythm by Taking a Medical Timeout During US Open Third Round

Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie (via X/WeAreTennis/Jose Morgado)

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Novak Djokovic earned himself a place in the fourth round of the US Open after overcoming British star Cameron Norrie in four sets. The win was his seventh against the 30-year-old and he has never lost to him on tour. However, the spotlight of the match was when Djokovic struggled with a back issue that saw him get a medical timeout off the court.

The 38-year-old had shown some signs of vulnerability in his two opening victories against Learner Tien and Zachary Svadja at the US Open, and Norrie was aiming to exploit it at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic started the first set strongly, but began to struggle with a lower back issue, while leading the British star 5-4.

He was visibly struggling with the problem and needed a medical timeout off the court. He returned to the court and won the remaining game to win the set. But early into the second set, he asked for more treatment from the physio. Fans on social media reacted to Djokovic’s medical timeouts, stressing he used them to trick Norrie. A fan wrote:

It’s the same old, same old. which has defined his entire career & what he will be remembered for.

Here are other fans’ reactions:

Djokovic went on to double-fault five times in the second set, including one during the tiebreak, and that gave Norrie the advantage. Norrie broke Djokovic in the first game of the third set and ultimately looked as if he would produce a comeback win.

But Djokovic immediately changed his formation. The former World No.1 began serving with precision. He has developed that as one of his lethal weapons in the last few years and always employs it against opponents who are more physical than he is.

The accuracy of his shots against Norrie increased, and that limited the baseline rallies in the match. Djokovic then showed class in the match, hitting 18 aces, the most he has hit in a match at the US Open. He claimed the set 6-7, 6(4)-7, 6-2, 6-3 against Norrie in two hours and 48 minutes.

Novak Djokovic says he’s feeling physically fine after struggling with back problems at the US Open

Novak Djokovic edged closer to claiming his 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open after overcoming Cameron Norrie. The former World No.1 has not won a Grand Slam since lifting the 2023 US Open men’s singles title. He has also reached only one final since then. This season, he has gotten to semi-finals of all the three Grand Slam events played earlier this year.

Novak Djokovic US Open 2025
Novak Djokovic (image via ATP)

At the French Open and Wimbledon, he lost to Jannik Sinner in the semi-final. Following his lower back issue, he was asked about it during his post-match press conference. He revealed that he’s feeling fine but not feeling 100 percent comfortable:

In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest. Yeah, it’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100 percent always like I have for 20-plus years. But yeah, I guess the circumstances are quite different and I have to get used to the fact that every match there’s something that might happen as it has been the case this year pretty much every slam.

Djokovic will face Jan-Lennard Struff, who stunned American star Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round. The German star has had a good run at the tournament, beating World No.11 Holger Rune in a five-setter in the second round. However, this will be to the benefit of Djokovic, who has had a slow start at the US Open and will now face the German qualifier as he aims to reach the quarter-finals of the New York Grand Slam.

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