Novak Djokovic survives a scare from young sensation American Brooksby

Novak Djokovic rallies back from a set down to 20-year-old American Brooksby to secure his quarterfinal passage on his way to beating rivals Federer and Nadal in the record for most slams.

Novak Djokovic may seem invincible, but he hasn’t exactly played like that all throughout this year’s U.S. Open. There have been chinks in the armor in his bid to becoming the first man since Rod Laver did in 1969 (in fact, he also did it in 1962, the only person to do it twice) to achieve the ‘Calendar Slam’: holding all slams in the same year.

Djokovic is the man to beat at this year’s final slam and has all the weight of the world records on his shoulders. If he wins in New York, he will sit above his great rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with the most grand slams and will surely be considered the undisputed GOAT, while the two other members of the Big Three nurse injuries.

Still, it hasn’t been an assured road, even if Djokovic is very clear favorite, he has shown drips in form along the way, dropping sets in his first and third rounds, notably with Kei Nishikori, and yet again, giving away the first set in his Round of 16 against a member of the crop of young sensations making waves at the U.S. Open, Jenson Brooksby.

The 20-year-old American Brooksby—who got on everyone’s radar with his surprise win at the Hall of Fame Open this summer—shocked the night crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium by making the 20 slam champion look very vulnerable early on. Ranked just 99, Brooksby ran through Djokovic’s comfort zone, breaking his serve twice, and winning the first set easily 6-1. The American seemed determined to give the hometown crowd the advantage they cheered on.

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But if there’s a player who thrives under pressure, it’s Novak Djokovic. The tennis legend was able to shake off the first set difficulties. He sat down at his bench and seemed to be meditating, or regrouping in some method of mental focus. Whatever mental exercises he was employing, it did the trick and the Serbian bounced back with aplomb, employing his customary prowess to win the next three sets with renewed focus, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

“Electric. Awesome,” was how Djokovic described the atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium, in his on-court interview with ESPN correspondent Brad Gilbert.

The sports icon had nothing but praise for his American competitor, however.

“We both gave our best. I told him at the net that the bright future is ahead of him. He’s a great, great player.”

He had a lot of respect for his opponent and added later about Brooksby: “America has a bright future in tennis, for sure!”

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Novak Djokovic looks all but unstoppable in achieving his quest for sole GOAT status, making another quarterfinal at the U.S. Open, set to meet his Wimbledon final opponent, the red-hot Matteo Berrettini from Italy, who also is playing with a lot of confidence.

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Djokovic is the overwhelming favorite at this year’s U.S. Open, as he’s been for the better part of the last decade. But the other takeaway from this fourth round match is the hope for American men’s tennis with talents such as Jenson Brooksby.