Cameron Norrie managed to win a set against Novak Djokovic for only the third time in his career – but was swatted aside by the former world No 1 in four sets at the US Open.
Cameron Norrie managed to win a set against Novak Djokovic for only the third time in his career – but was swatted aside by the former world No 1 in four sets at the US Open.
It was the first match of Norrie’s career on the main Arthur Ashe stadium court and he started well, pushing Djokovic until the third set, before losing 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.
The Serb, seeded No 7 here, will continue his hunt for a record 25th grand slam in next week’s fourth round.
Norrie was the last Briton left in the singles after Emma Raducanu was beaten in straight sets by Elena Rybakina earlier in the day and he was unable to avoid the same fate.
Djokovic has now beaten Norrie in all seven of their meetings but there were times when he was made to look uncomfortable.
The four-time US Open winner was forced to overcome an early back problem during an awkward first set.
He had heaped the pressure on Norrie and broke for a 4-3 lead with a forehand winner before firing his ninth ace of the contest in the following game to consolidate his advantage.
The 38-year-old then began to feel the effects of a back issue after going up 5-4 and received treatment off the court before returning to serve out the opening set.
Djokovic called for more medical attention three games into the next set and his first-serve speed briefly dipped following that break in play.
However, he started to fire on all cylinders again and went toe-to-toe with Norrie, who had to fight back from a two-point deficit early in the second-set tie break to go level in the match.
Djokovic served impressively throughout the match, hitting 18 aces, though he struggled to convert break points, taking only five out of 12, which allowed Norrie to stay in the game longer.
A sublime drop shot helped Norrie break in the opening game of the third set but Djokovic struck back to win three straight games, pausing only to bark at someone in the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands to stay quiet.
Djokovic continued to reassert himself from there, closing out the set comfortably and fully hitting his stride in the fourth to book a meeting with Jan-Lennard Struff.
He dismissed the significance the back injury might have on his bid for a fifth title at Flushing Meadows.
“It’s all right,” Djokovic said. “You have some ups and downs, I guess, you don’t want to reveal too much to the rivals, so I’m as young as ever and as strong as ever.”
03:17 AM BST
Novak Djokovic remains in the hunt for a record-breaking 25th grand slam trophy
That’s everything from Arthur Ashe from Cameron Norrie’s four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic.
Norrie’s defeat ends British hopes in the US Open singles, but there is plenty more tennis to come from Flushing Meadows.
03:16 AM BST
Djokovic is into the fourth round
When asked about his back after the match, Djokovic said in the on-court interview: “It’s alright. You have some ups and downs I guess, you don’t want to reveal too much to the rivals, so I’m as young as ever and as strong as ever.”
03:07 AM BST
GAME, SET, MATCH DJOKOVIC: Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 3-6 Djokovic*
Djokovic has the chance now to serve out for the match, and takes the first point when after a long rally, Norrie just hits long.
Norrie hits another backhand into the net and Djokovic is just two points away, he turns on the power with his forehand to carve out three match points.
He only needs one as Norrie hits long again.
Game, set, match, Djokovic. That is all the Britons out of the singles at the US Open.
03:04 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 3-5 Djokovic
Norrie wins the first point with an overhead, and follows it up by somehow managing to get on the end of a whipped forehand and turn it into a winner.
An ace takes Norrie to 40-0, and he holds to love.
03:01 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 2-5 Djokovic
Djokovic starts his service game in ideal fashion, with an ace, and follows it up with a strong serve and volley.
An ace to 40-0, and Djokovic holds to love to move within one game of reaching the fourth round.
03:00 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 2-4 Djokovic
It would take a miracle now for Norrie to find a way back into this match, and he does not start off his service game very well, hitting yet another backhand into the net 0-15.
Another error to 0-30, but he recovers with two serves that Djokovic hits into the net.
Norrie goes on to hold to 30.
02:56 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 1-4 Djokovic*
Djokovic is just doing enough here, it might not be free flowing, but Norrie’s mistakes are building. 0-30.
There was little resistance there until Djokovic double-faulted to make it 40-30, but he went on to hold.
02:52 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 1-3 Djokovic
The mistakes just keep on coming for Norrie, but he manages to squeak ahead at 30-15.
But he cannot string the good rallies together in the same way he did in the first two sets, although he does manage to get on board in the fourth by holding to 30 with an ace.
02:48 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-3 Djokovic*
Djokovic eases to a 30-0 lead, as Norrie’s tennis is becoming increasingly error-strewn.
He misses an overhead and Djokovic moves to 40-0, and holds to love.
02:46 AM BST
DJOKOVIC BREAKS: Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-2 Djokovic
On his service game, Norrie moves 15-0 ahead, but Djokovic quickly draws level.
There are just a few forehand errors that have crept into Norrie’s game that have cost him slightly here, as Djokovic has two break points after a mistake and a double fault.
Norrie saves the first, but cannot do anything about the second and it’s another break to Djokovic.
02:42 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-1 Djokovic*
Djokovic sends Norrie racing both ways across the baseline before taking the first point of the fourth set.
He follows it up with a serve that Norrie cannot return, 30-0.
But then Djokovic makes a routine error, hitting a forehand into the net, but it does not matter and he holds to 15.
02:37 AM BST
SET DJOKOVIC: Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 Djokovic
Djokovic wins the first point of Norrie’s service game as he tries to stay in the third set.
Norrie makes it 15-15 with a volleyed backhand, but Djokovic restores his advantage by hitting yet another line.
Two aces gives Norrie the lead, but Djokovic sends down a return winner to force the game to deuce.
Djokovic has set point after a Norrie forehand error, and he takes it!
02:32 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-5 Djokovic*
Djokovic might have looked a bit out of it for a couple of points in the last game, but he might just have been saving energy for this one.
There hardly any jeopardy at all as he holds to 30.
02:29 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 2-4 Djokovic
I’ve just seen something you would never see at Wimbledon, someone has brought their service dog with them to sit by their feet.
Norrie slices a backhand winner and Djokovic jogs off seemingly in some discomfort but that’s happened before.
Norrie holds to 15 to reduce the deficit in this third set.
02:25 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 1-4 Djokovic*
Norrie takes the first point on Djokovic’s serve with a high forehand winner.
Djokovic hits a forehand into the net, and Norrie has a chance now at 0-30.
But as he does Djokovic reduces the deficit, and levels with a big second serve.
With two forehand errors from Norrie, Djokovic holds.
02:20 AM BST
DJOKOVIC BREAKS: Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 1-3 Djokovic
Norrie is made to wait as he prepares to serve for players to take their seats, but it does not seem to faze him too much as he moves 15-0 ahead.
But a ball rebounds into the stands off the frame of Norrie’s racket and it’s 15-15. Another mistake, this time a backhand from Norrie into the net and it’s 15-30.
So far this match Norrie has been good at coming to the net, and he makes it level with a deft drop shot.
Djokovic carves out break point, and Norrie hits a backhand into the net and is broken.
02:14 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 1-2 Djokovic*
Norrie has not been at the same level this service game, making more basic mistakes as Djokovic takes a 30-0 lead.
He then follows that up with an ace, and a forehand winner to hold to love.
02:12 AM BST
DJOKOVIC BREAKS BACK: Norrie* 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 1-1 Djokovic
Norrie plays an open forehand that Djokovic is nowhere near to go 15-0 up, but a ball into the net makes it 15-15.
Norrie goes for his trademark serve out wide, but Djokovic plays the perfect return winner, 30-30.
Djokovic carves out a chance to break back immediately with a backhand down the line, but Norrie takes the game to deuce.
Djokovic will have another chance, but Norrie saves that break point too with an ace down the middle.
It’s Djokovic this time who makes the mistake, hitting a backhand into the net, but it will go to a third deuce.
Norrie hits a long forehand and Djokovic has a third break point, and Norrie double faults.
02:05 AM BST
NORRIE BREAKS: Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 1-0 Djokovic*
It was Norrie’s turn to have a break off the court in between the second and third sets.
But it will be Djokovic to serve at the start of the third. Norrie goes for the line, and finds it to make it 15-15.
Norrie is staying in these rallies, and makes it 40-30 by just clipping the outside of the tramline, and Djokovic misses an overhead to take the game to deuce.
Norrie has opened up his first break point of the match, and he takes it with a deft drop shot.
Cameron Norrie gets past Novak in a tiebreak as they split the first two sets.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2025
Onward to the third. pic.twitter.com/Rr0wgEVNgV
01:57 AM BST
TIE BREAK: Norrie 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) Djokovic
After the mini interval in the tie break.
Norrie edges ahead after one of the best points of the match, he somehow manages to win an exchange of volleys at the net. 4-3
Another good serve and Norrie moves into the lead. 5-3
After a tame baseline exchange, Norrie has won five points in a row to carve out three set points. 6-3
Djokovic saves the first one with a serve that Norrie hits into the net. 6-4
Norrie takes the second set with a Djokovic double fault 7-4!
01:53 AM BST
TIE BREAK: Norrie 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic
Norrie to serve first, and he hits it into the net. 0-1
Djokovic serves, Norrie returns, it hits the net cord and just drops over. Djokovic inexplicably manages to get there and play a shot that Norrie can only hit into the net.
That gets the crowd on their feet and Djokovic is just lapping it up. 0-2
Norrie gets on the board when Djokovic hits the ball into the net. 1-2.
Norrie hits outside the court and Djokovic moves further ahead 1-3.
Norrie goes for a big serve and Djokovic’s return is out 2-3.
Norrie comes to the net and wins the point. 3-3
01:49 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic*
Djokovic is serving out for the ser, and takes a 15-0 lead.
Norrie hits a backhand long and Djokovic eases to a 40-0 lead, and takes the set to a tie break.
01:44 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 6-5 Djokovic
Djokovic follows up the hold with a big forehand winner, but Norrie quickly makes it 15-15.
Norrie’s second serve was returned into the tramlines by Djokovic, and another kick is hit out.
Norrie holds to 15.
01:42 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 5-5 Djokovic*
Djokovic double faults at the start of his service game, but pulls it back quickly.
Another double fault and it’s 30-30. But Djokovic comes to the net, Norrie has done everything he could but it goes in favour of the Serbian.
Djokovic holds with an ace.
01:36 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 5-4 Djokovic
After a long rally with Djokovic, Norrie goes 15-0 ahead as Djokovic drops his racket, makes sighing sounds and holds his back.
Norrie hits a serve that Djokovic cannot return in and that kicks off the Serbian’s stretching routine, lifting his racket and both hands above his head. It was something we saw a lot in his opening match against Learner Tien.
Norrie holds, and Djokovic is unhappy and starts chirping at his box.
01:31 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 4-4 Djokovic*
Djokovic hits the ball long to make it 15-15. But pulls ahead with a serve that Norrie backhands into the net.
The Serbian moves to a 40-15 lead with an ace, but he double faults.
Djokovic holds to 30.
01:26 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 4-3 Djokovic
Norrie hits a backhand long and goes 0-15 behind, and Djokovic forces him into another mistake.
Djokovic carves out two break points. Norrie saves the first after a race around the court, sealed with an overhead, and even manages to take the game to deuce with the Serbian hitting the net.
Norrie takes the advantage, but a backhand that lands almost on the line is too hard for him to return.
The Briton moves ahead again with an ace, and takes the game when Djokovic hits long.
01:21 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 3-3 Djokovic*
Whatever problem Djokovic might have had, it is not holding him back, as he plays an open forehand winner to move 30-0 ahead.
Djokovic serves his first double fault of the match, but follows it up with one Norrie cannot return in the court and holds to 15 with an ace.
Novak closes out the first set 6-4 in Ashe! pic.twitter.com/x6yOG12Ula
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2025
01:16 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 3-2 Djokovic
A double fault from Norrie puts him on the back foot at the start of this game.
But he levels it with a good point that has Djokovic scarpering across the baseline.
A forehand down the line takes the score to 30-15, and another run from the Serbian who cannot get a return back to 40-15.
Norrie takes the game with a drop shot.
01:13 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 2-2 Djokovic*
Djokovic is receiving more treatment on his back after that hold from Norrie.
It is hard to know how much this is actually affecting him, as Djokovic has so often looked in trouble only to play well enough to blow most of the tour away.
It doesn’t seem to be bothering him on the court, as he eases to a 30-0 lead.
Djokovic takes the game.
01:09 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 2-1 Djokovic
Norrie goes ahead, but Djokovic was wrong-footed there, slipping as he was unable to chase down the drop shot.
He follows it up with an ace to go 30-0 ahead, and another to move 40-0 up.
That might be Norrie’s quickest hold of the match.
01:08 AM BST
Norrie 4-6, 1-1 Djokovic*
Djokovic starts his service game with an ace, and follows it up with a forehand winner.
A forehand from Norrie goes into the net to make it 40-0 and Djokovic draws level in the second set with ease.
01:06 AM BST
Norrie* 4-6, 1-0 Djokovic
Both players were involved in a conversation with the umpire during the break between sets, but whatever was discussed seems to be put aside as Norrie serves.
He plays a forehand down the line to go 15-0 up, but it’s levelled by Djokovic.
Norrie is playing well this game and moves to 40-15, taking the game with a serve that Djokovic can only just get a racket on, nevermind return.
01:01 AM BST
SET: Norrie 4-6 Djokovic*
Djokovic misses a drop shot and Norrie edges ahead at 0-15.
But after a longer rally, Norrie hits the ball into the net to level the score, before following it up with a winner to go 30-15 up.
Another backhand into the net from Norrie and Djokovic carves out two set points, and he only needs one when a Norrie forehand goes into the tramlines.
12:57 AM BST
Djokovic returns to court
He has been off court for over five minutes, and after sitting with his jacket on for a bit, Norrie has now walked over to have some words with his team as Djokovic walks back on to serve out for the set.
12:50 AM BST
Djokovic leaves court for medical time out: Norrie* 4-5 Djokovic
It’s only eight games into the match and Djokovic has called a physio to the court.
The problem is clearly big enough that Djokovic has to leave the court with his trainer.
12:49 AM BST
Norrie* 4-5 Djokovic
Norrie takes the first point when Djokovic hits long after a rally.
A drop shot brings Djokovic to the net, but again he wins the point, with Norrie hitting long.
There is a murmur as Djokovic appears to hold his back as Norrie serves out for the game.
12:46 AM BST
Norrie 3-5 Djokovic*
The longest rally of the match has included an impressive 18 shots, and that one went in favour of Djokovic.
Norrie takes the first point of Djokovic’s service game, but it’s levelled with an ace.
Another ace and Djokovic moves ahead, and with a third successive ace, takes it to 40-15.
The game is sealed with a fourth ace in a row.
12:42 AM BST
BREAK: Norrie* 3-4 Djokovic
A big serve and volley gives Norrie the edge to go 15-0 up, but it’s level as Djokovic forces his opponent too wide to return from.
At 30-30, Norrie plays a drop shot but it’s not short enough and Djokovic carves out his first break point of the evening.
But Norrie saves it with a powerful flat forehand that is out of the Serbian’s reach, and another wide backhand to set up advantage.
Djokovic has another when after a long rally Norrie hits just long, and that one he takes with an overhead after another long rally.
12:34 AM BST
Norrie 3-3 Djokovic*
Djokovic starts his service game with an ace, and another one to go 30-0 ahead.
He wrong-foots Norrie for 40-0 and seals the game with yet another ace.
12:31 AM BST
Norrie* 3-2 Djokovic
Norrie double faults for the first time in the match to go 0-15 behind, but it’s level after a good serve and volley combination from the last Briton remaining in the US Open singles.
After a long rally, Djokovic goes ahead when Norrie hits a backhand into the net, but Norrie serves out wide and the Serbian can only return into the net, 30-30.
Another two misshits from Djokovic and Norrie holds.
12:28 AM BST
Norrie 2-2 Djokovic*
Norrie returns a second serve long, and Djokovic follows it up with an ace to go 30-0 ahead.
Another big serve, and after a quick net exchange, Djokovic seals the game with a passing winner.
12:24 AM BST
Norrie* 2-1 Djokovic
Djokovic is playing well, and Norrie has to go scarpering after a forehand that he cannot reach to go behind in the set, another return long and it’s 0-30.
But Norrie is still in it, forcing a return long from a serve to pull a point back, and after another rally it’s level with Djokovic hitting long.
To go 40-30 up was probably the first controlled rally by Norrie who gets Djokovic on the run before a forehand winner.
But Djokovic takes it to deuce. After a backhand into the net, and a long forehand, Norrie holds.
12:20 AM BST
Norrie 1-1 Djokovic*
Djokovic takes the first point of his service game after the longest rally of the match so far - not that that’s saying much!
He is looking sharp here, quickly racing to a 40-0 lead, and sealing the game with an ace.
12:18 AM BST
Norrie* 1-0 Djokovic (* denotes server)
It is Norrie to serve first, and he starts off well with Djokovic returning a first serve long, and the second point is almost identical.
The third is returned into the net, and the fourth long as Norrie races to take the lead.
12:14 AM BST
The players are warming up
It is always slightly bizarre that the stats and records of the players are being read out as they try and warm up and prepare for a match. But if anyone was in any doubt who Cameron Norrie is, they will absolutely know it is his Arthur Ashe debut.
I think that stat has been repeated about five times.
But they might run out of time reading out Novak Djokovic’s resume, as he chases what is apparently an “unimaginable record” of a 25th grand slam singles title.
12:09 AM BST
Cameron Norrie and Novak Djokovic make their way onto the court
Cameron Norrie and Novak Djokovic have just walked onto the court.
Norrie has been announced to the crowd as “Wimbledon semi-finalist” while there are noticeably more cheers for the 24-time grand slam champion.
12:08 AM BST
Cameron Norrie is excited for the match
Norrie said: “I think you asked your seven-year-old self what you would like to be doing on a Friday night, then you would say this. I’m so excited.”
Norrie said it has been many years since he has even played a night session in New York, and it is a different crowd in the evening at Flushing Meadows.
12:04 AM BST
Cameron Norrie makes Arthur Ashe debut
It seems strange for a player who has played as long as Cameron Norrie that he has never stepped foot onto the vast stadium court that is Arthur Ashe.
He spoke after his second-round win about his hope that it would be on the only major court at the majors that he has yet to play on, and seems to have got his wish.
11:54 PM BST
Djokovic has questionable time-keeping
As Jacob Fearnley said after his straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev on Thursday night, some of the top players can take a while to be called.
Novak Djokovic kept Fearnley waiting at Wimbledon in 2024, so Cameron Norrie and Djokovic might not walk out on court until a few minutes after the scheduled time of 7pm local time, midnight in the UK.
11:48 PM BST
Cameron Norrie has a chance - albeit a slim one
Cameron Norrie’s brand of tennis might just prove key in this match - but only providing that Novak Djokovic is not as fit as he can be.
Norrie knows he cannot out-serve a top player, instead he lures them into energy-sapping drawn out tennis, which can unsettle a few on tour.
“I will have to beat him with physicality,” Norrie said, while acknowledging: “I’m not going to be a servebot and serve him off the court.”
11:40 PM BST
Novak Djokovic cannot roll back the years
To say Novak Djokovic has not been at his best in the US Open this year might even be an understatement.
In his opening two rounds he has appeared flustered and at times struggling for fitness - but of course in true Djokovic fashion he has come through unscathed.
Against Learner Tien in the opener he needed treatment for a blister on his toe, and in the second against qualifier Zachary Svajda, dropped a set.
But this is also a player on a quest for a record-breaking 25th major, and one who has been at the top of the sport for almost two decades, he cannot be written off that easily.
11:31 PM BST
Norrie eyes first-ever win over Djokovic
Good evening and welcome to late-night tennis action from New York as Cameron Norrie bids to beat Novak Djokovic for the first time.
Norrie is the last Briton standing in the singles after Emma Raducanu’s defeat to Elena Rybakina.
Djokovic has won all six of their meetings, dropping only two sets. So far in the tournament, Djokovic has been far from his dominant best but remains a formidable test.
“I will say the chances are getting better as the years get on - I would not say by much,” said Norrie.
“But the level he brings, the competitiveness he brings, is crazy. Every time I’ve played him, he’s changing his tactics and making it really difficult for me to play.
“So I’m just ready for anything. Him to play unreal. Him to play not great. Him to be stopping the match for something and then playing really good. I think he’s so, so good at competing and tactics. He’s amazing.
“It’s going to be very tough. I’m going to have to play close to my best to have a chance with him. I’ve never played on Arthur Ashe here.
“It’s probably the only big court in tennis that I’ve never played. Hopefully I get to play on that one.
“I’m so happy to be with my team and to be enjoying New York and getting the chance to have a crack at one of the best players in history.
“I think the chances are greater for me to win the match than in previous years or in previous form for him.”
Djokovic remains on the hunt for a 25th grand slam title and admitted his struggles to find his best level have left him frustrated.
“It’s not like I’m not finding joy on the court competing. I enjoy competing, but I don’t enjoy not playing well. That’s why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to be better the next day, the next match,” he said.
“It’s not a motivation thing. It’s just like me a bit frustrated with my game, and then I kind of go through stuff internally. You don’t want to know the details of what I’m going through and telling myself.”
Category: General Sports
