Novak Djokovic feels 'prepared' as he heads to the US Open looking to make history

[p]That so-far futile quest hasn't made the 39-year-old immune to the pleasures of the lesser milestones he's piling up along the way.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Djokovic[/a] is poised for his 20th US Open appearance, a mark that only three other men - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/connors-jimmy/YR3XfB18/"]Jimmy Connors[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/agassi-andre/dpmh3fNO/"]Andre Agassi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lopez-feliciano/6NnuYxEB/"]Feliciano Lopez[/a] - have achieved.[/p][p]"[b]I'm very proud of that,[/b]" Djokovic said Saturday as he prepared to take on Argentina's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/navone-mariano/YoPUeL3o/"]Mariano Navone[/a] on Arthur Ashe Stadium [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/djokovic-n-AZg49Et9/navone-m-YoPUeL3o/?mid=hbCCx5Fj"]on Sunday[/a].[/p][p]"[b]Obviously longevity was always one of the goals when I was younger, trying to have long career, trying to have more shots at Grand Slams, and stay healthy long enough so that I can perform for as many years as possible,[/b]" Djokovic said.[/p][p]But it's not just about surviving, and with world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] sidelined by a knee injury and defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a] something of an unknown quantity as he returns from a four-month injury absence, Djokovic could find his path to a 25th major crown eased somewhat.[/p][p]Djokovic has had 11 chances to break the Grand Slam record, reaching two finals and half a dozen other semi-finals since equalling Court's mark.[/p][embed guid="bcf2697f-d53f-4df8-a2c9-46de61f2af54" url="https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2093816239701582016?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]He went toe-to-toe with Sinner in a five-set semi-final win in Australia this year before falling to Alcaraz in the final and after a third-round exit at Roland Garros went down to eventual champion Sinner in the semis at Wimbledon.[/p][p]After pulling out of the Montreal Masters, Djokovic struggled in his Cincinnati opener, where he acknowledged the heat and humidity made whatever physical problems he was battling worse.[/p][p]"[b]I don't like early losses anywhere, to be honest, but it gave me time to be preparing for US Open in a most adequate way,[/b]" Djokovic said.[/p][p]"[b]I had two weeks to really train and get my body and mind into the right state, prepared for what's coming up.[/b][/p][p]"[b]So it remains to be seen. "If you ask me if I'm prepared, I feel like I am, as best I can be. But it's different training and then getting out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing best-of-five (sets). You don't normally play best-of-five on the practice sessions.[/b]"[/p][p]Djokovic, seeded fourth, will be a heavy favorite against 48th-ranked Navone.[/p][p]But Djokovic is well aware of the danger any opponent can pose as he seeks to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title - a mark that belongs now to Australian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rosewall-ken/8OybSxL3/"]Ken Rosewall[/a] who was 37 when he won the Australian Open in 1972.[/p][p]"[b]Let's see how it goes,[/b]" Djokovic said. "[b]The opening matches are always for me, particularly in the last few years, quite challenging. So hopefully I can overcome the first hurdle and build from there.[/b]"[/p]