Roger Federer On Novak Djokovic’s Bid For 25th Major: ‘As Long As He’s In The Draw, There’s A Chance’

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Novak Djokovic of Serbia shakes hands pinch Roger Federer of Switzerland astatine the nett pursuing triumph successful his Men's Singles last during Day thirteen of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 astatine All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club connected July 14, 2019 successful London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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Roger Federer is backmost astatine the U.S. Open for an accumulation Tuesday nighttime successful Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Ahead of his return to the court, the 20-time awesome champion held a property convention connected Monday and was asked astir Novak Djokovic’s continued bid for a grounds 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic, the No. 4 seed astatine the Open, is the 3rd favourite to triumph the title down No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Alexander Zverev, per Kalshi.

“Whenever Novak enters immoderate tourney aliases Major, he’ll person a shot,” Federer said.

“I person very precocious respect for Novak, I’ve seen what he tin do, not conscionable once, not conscionable here, but each spot - astatine the highest level.

“As agelong arsenic he’s successful the draw, there’s a chance and I deliberation that’s 1 of the reasons he’s still playing because he must judge he tin do it, that’s my opinion.”

Much will dangle connected the draw, which comes retired Thursday astatine noon.

With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (knee) having pulled out, and defending champion Alcaraz (wrist) having not played since April, the men’s tie appears arsenic wide unfastened arsenic ever.

“Maybe this is [Djokovic’s] past champion past chance,” ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez said Monday connected a convention call. “If he tin beryllium 100% physically, this would beryllium the one, not knowing precisely really Carlos is going to get retired location and play.”

Djokovic hasn’t won a awesome since the 2023 U.S. Open, but he besides made the semifinals of each 4 fields successful 2025 and besides reached the Australian Open last this twelvemonth earlier losing to Alcaraz.

“It’s decidedly imaginable [that Djokovic could triumph No. 25 successful New York],” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe said. "I wouldn’t stake connected it myself personally. He’s surely capable. He’s played good successful the fields this year. Beat Sinner successful Australia [in the semis].

"I deliberation a batch of things person to break correct for him. Weather-wise, avoiding a agelong match. I deliberation the Felix lucifer took a batch retired of him moreover though he had 2 days disconnected earlier he played Sinner [at Wimbledon].

“Certainly, the measurement he's played successful the majors, he's playing good capable to beryllium a factor. For me, there's excessively galore things that person to spell right, that person to break correct for him to triumph it.”