Novak Djokovic’s US Open disqualification and entry ban – Inside his wild USA relationship
Novak Djokovic goes into the 2026 edition of the US Open still looking for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian star heads to the United States as No.4 seed, fresh off a run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon. However, Jannik Sinner – the man who ended his run at SW19 – will be absent due to injury. Djokovic is a four-time champion at the US Open but has also endured some painful near-misses and we have taken a look back here.
The 39-year-old has also been at the centre of controversy at Flushing Meadows in recent years. That all pre-dates his most recent singles triumph in New York, though – a success which is also his most recent major. More than two decades have passed since he first played and won at the tournament and he has managed to fit in plenty of memorable moments.
US Open debut and early results
Djokovic wasn’t the only future champion to make his US Open debut in 2005. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka were also in the field, while those at the other end of their careers in the 2005 edition included Andre Agassi and Greg Rusedski.
His first ever match at the tournament came against a man who would end up stepping out against him on plenty of occasions. He needed five sets to beat Gael Monfils in one of 20 victories over a man who has never beaten him.
Another five-setter saw Djokovic eliminated by Fernando Verdasco in round three and he reached the same stage in 2006. However, in 2007, he reached the first Grand Slam final of his career, losing in straight sets to Roger Federer.
Four titles and more near misses
It wasn’t until 2011 that Djokovic went one better and won the tournament. It was the fourth major title of his career after two Australian Open victories in 2008 and 2011 and the Wimbledon title in 2011.
Those first three all came against different opponents – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. It was Nadal on the other side of the net for that first US win as well, though it wasn’t the first time they met at the tournament.
Nadal was also the man who beat Djokovic in the 2010 and 2013 finals, one of six times the latter has finished as runner-up. The blow was softened by titles number two, three and four in the States.
The most recent of those successes came in 2023, when Daniil Medvedev was beaten in straight sets. Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat to Alexei Popyrin in round three the following year but rebounded with a semi-final run in 2025.
Disqualification and controversy
In between Djokovic’s third US Open title in 2018 and his fourth in 2023, he attracted plenty of controversy. He was disqualified from the 2020 edition after hitting a line judge with a ball during his fourth round meeting with Pablo Carreno Busta.
He didn’t mean to hit the official and pleaded for leniency. However, he was ejected from the tournament after falling foul of the official rules, with referee Soeren Friemel outlining the reasons for the decision.
“His point was that he didn’t hit the line umpire intentionally,” Friemel said. “He said, ‘Yes, I was angry, I hit the ball, I hit the line umpire, the facts are very clear, but it wasn’t my intent, I didn’t do it on purpose, so I shouldn’t be defaulted for that.’
“We all agreed that he didn’t do it on purpose but the facts are still that he hit the line umpire and that the line umpire was clearly hurt.
Entry ban and return
Two years later there was more drama. The 2022 US Open came when federal travel restrictions were in place for foreigners who had not been vaccinated against Covid-19 and that saw Djokovic sit out the tournament.
“Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open,” Djokovic wrote at the time on social media. “Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. Good luck to my fellow players.
I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!”
He was back the very next year and meant business. Laslo Djere was the only player to take a set off the former world No.1 all tournament long, with Medvedev – Djokovic’s conqueror in 2021 – swatted aside in the final.
In the 11 slams since then, Djokovic has reached two finals and fallen in the semis on six other occasions. The US Open has plenty of memories attached to it – some good and some bad – and now he has the chance to write another chapter in the story as he goes again for the elusive, record-breaking 25th major title.
