Tennis fans got their first glimpse of drama before the US Open even began when footage surfaced of Novak Djokovic running through Montenegro just one day before he was scheduled to compete in New York. The timing raised eyebrows across the tennis community, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion cutting it remarkably close for his mixed doubles debut.
Novak Djokovic Was Reportedly in Montenegro One Day Before Reaching New York
Djokovic reached New York just one day before the mixed doubles event, where he is set to debut with his compatriot partner, Olga Danilovic. The pair received a wild card entry into the tournament and is set to face the Russian pair, Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev, in the first round.
Novak New York@DjokerNole arrives at the US Open. pic.twitter.com/sfqW3pppo3
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 18, 2025
The Serbian star has been conspicuously absent from the North American hard-court swing, skipping both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Masters to focus on recovery from a persistent thigh injury.
Recent footage from Montenegro shows Djokovic running on the road as part of his training program, just hours before making his way to Flushing Meadows.
Djokovic spotted running in Montenegro a day before the mixed doubles match in NYC
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This unconventional preparation timeline underscored the new US Open mixed doubles championship, which kicks off on August 19 with a two-day spectacle featuring 16 elite pairs competing for a staggering $1 million winner’s prize.
Djokovic’s dominance at the US Open spans over two decades, making him one of the most successful players in the tournament’s history. He holds four US Open titles, winning in 2011, 2015, 2018, and most recently in 2023 when he defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to claim his 24th Grand Slam at age 36.
MORE: Novak Djokovic’s Fans Go Crazy as Serb’s Potential Lacoste Kits for US Open 2025 Revealed
The Serbian star has reached an incredible 10 finals at Flushing Meadows, though his 4-6 record in championship matches represents his worst finals winning percentage among all four major championships. Djokovic sits right behind Jimmy Connors’ 98 victories at the US Open, boasting an impressive 86.5% win rate with 90 victories.
What Did Tennis Fans Think About Djokovic’s Last-Minute Training?
As this image was shared on Reddit, the tennis community had a humorous exchange in the comment section. One fan wrote, “Cutting it fine there Novak. I guess if he has a bed on the plane it doesn’t matter as much.”
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Replying to this particular comment, a fan wrote, “Plane? I thought he was running to New York.”
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The jokes kept coming when one Reddit user asked, “So he’s not in New York yet?” This was the response he got from a fellow Reddit user: “No can’t you see he’s on his way there right now, he’s running as fast as he can.”
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Amid lighthearted comments about Djokovic’s training, there were a few tennis fans with an analytical eye. One user assessed the opportunity top players will get from the mixed doubles events. They wrote: “The top players are going to be given a bag just to have their names on the schedule and to show up. Besides the money I’m assuming the top players are using this as an opportunity to warm up and study how the courts at the USO will play.”
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Meanwhile, one fan defended Djokovic’s privacy, calling out whoever clicked the image and posted it on social media.
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With the US Open main draw approaching, the top players will look forward to stepping on the courts and getting accustomed to the conditions. It would be interesting to see whether Djokovic claims his 25th Grand Slam at the US Open, now that he has successfully made it to New York.
