Cameron Norrie is preparing to try and beat Novak Djokovic for the first time.
The British number two has advanced to the third round of the US Open after beating Argentina’s Francisco Comesana in four sets.
Beating the Serbian at Grand Slam level, and especially at a Grand Slam, is still one of the toughest things to achieve in tennis.
Cameron Norrie has yet to defeat Djokovic, but his upcoming meeting with the former world number one may be his best chance of scoring a win over the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Photo by Al Bello/Getty ImagesAndy Roddick thinks Cameron Norrie should be ‘encouraged’ after watching Novak Djokovic at the US Open so far
Novak Djokovic has reached the third round of the US Open but he appears to be struggling physically.
During the second set of his opening match against Learner Tien, the 38-year-old looked fatigued and he took a medical timeout for a foot issue.
Djokovic lost the first set of his second match against Zachary Svajda, before recovering to claim a four-set win.
During the latest episode of his ‘Served’ podcast, Andy Roddick thinks Norrie should feel optimistic about his chances of beating Djokovic given his physical struggles.
“He has been dominant against Cam Norrie, but Cam Norrie is one of the fittest guys on Tour, he is notorious for talking about the fact where he has some sort of thing where he takes on more air than the rest of us more mortals and can run forever,” he said.
“That is going to test Novak and if you are Cam Norrie you are going if I have to find a way to convince myself that I can beat Novak, it has to be encouraging seeing what we have seen from Novak the first two rounds.
“If you are Cam Norrie there is still not a universe where you pick Novak but it’s been strange. The first set Novak looked pretty average – and that’s average for Novak.
“He picked it up and found a way and it’s amazing how he can be in the third round and we are sitting here going it looks like he’s out of breath, yet here we are.”
Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty ImagesWhen did Cameron Norrie last play Novak Djokovic?
Djokovic has played Norrie on six occasions, and the Brit has yet to win.
He has claimed just two sets against Djokovic, first at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships and the 2025 Geneva Open.
Their last meeting took place at the French Open, which was their third career meeting on a clay court. Djokovic eased to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory in Paris.
Their US Open battle marks Norrie and Djokovic’s first match on an outdoor hard court, and it has the potential to be a compelling and hard-fought contest.