Djokovic headlines first night session vs Navone

NEW YORK — Four-time champion Novak Djokovic headlines the first night session of the US Open, kicking off his latest quest for an elusive 25th Grand Slam title against Argentina’s Mariano Navone on Sunday.

Djokovic will be in familiar territory under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, where balmy evening temperatures could be a boon for the 39-year-old Serbian superstar last seen struggling physically with the heat in an upset loss in Cincinnati.

Djokovic seized his 24th Grand Slam trophy at the US Open in 2023. Since then he has reached two Grand Slam finals, including the Australian Open this year, and reached the semifinals in six more.

But a 25th crown – to take him past the all-time record he shares with Australian Margaret Court – has eluded him.

Third-ranked American Jessica Pegula, chasing a first Grand Slam title, is also in action, along with US great Venus Williams, who won two of her seven Grand Slam titles at the US Open.

Djokovic came tantalizingly close to a 25th Grand Slam at the Australian Open before falling in the final to Carlos Alcaraz. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury and Alcaraz mounting his title defense after four months sidelined by injury, Djokovic could have one more golden opportunity.

The 48th-ranked Navone, whose best Grand Slam run to date is a round of 32 appearance at Roland Garros last year, could offer a chance for Djokovic to ease into the tournament.

Meanwhile, Pegula is chasing her first Grand Slam title, having come closest in a battling loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final.

The Belarusian chased Pegula in the semifinals last year, but the American arrives at her home Grand Slam after consistent season that included two titles and three other finals.

Pegula said this week that she’s a “much better player” than she was in that 2024 final.