The spotlight at the US Open just got brighter for one young American. Zachary Svajda walked off the court Sunday knowing his tennis dreams were about to collide with reality in the form of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
How Did Zachary Svajda React to Drawing Novak Djokovic in Round Two?
The 22-year-old rising star earned his second-round showdown by defeating unseeded Hungarian Zsombor Piros on Sunday, winning 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Meanwhile, Djokovic cruised past Learner Tien in straight sets to set up Wednesday’s intriguing clash.
For Svajda, this matchup represents the culmination of years of watching Djokovic dominate the sport’s biggest stages. The young American expressed his excitement about facing Djokovic and reflected on a memorable practice session that left him starstruck.
“It’s amazing. I practiced with him once, and he was a really nice guy,” Svajda said. “I was a little nervous practising with him, a couple of years ago. I will definitely be looking forward to it and will just try to soak in the moment and enjoy it as much as possible.”
The magnitude of the moment isn’t lost on Svajda, who grew up watching Djokovic compete on tennis’s biggest stages. “I would watch a lot of his matches [growing up], but obviously, he was in the finals of Slams a lot. It’s just really cool thinking about the fact that I will play him on Wednesday.”
Zachary Svajda wins a US Open main draw match for the 2nd time in his career
6-4 6-2 7-5 vs. Zsombor Piros and he’s into R2 pic.twitter.com/F1ZnWj2OwR
— Mario Boccardi (@boccardi_marioo) August 24, 2025
This victory carries extra significance for Svajda, who has battled through challenging US Open campaigns in recent years. He made his US Open debut as an 18-year-old in 2021, winning his first-round match that year. However, he couldn’t repeat that success in 2023 and 2024, making Sunday’s breakthrough feel even sweeter.
“I would say this one honestly felt better, because this is my fourth match this year after I had to go through qualifying,” Svajda explained. “Getting that qualifying last-round win felt amazing, like a great relief. Now I’ve done it again, and I only have one day off, so I’m feeling the momentum. It definitely feels really good.”
What Advice Will Svajda Seek Before Facing Djokovic?
With Wednesday’s match approaching, Svajda plans to tap into the American tennis community for guidance on handling one of the sport’s all-time greats. The connections he’s built within the circuit could prove valuable as he prepares for the biggest match of his career.
“I’m close with all the American players,” Svajda said. “Everyone’s very nice, and it’s great seeing Ben [Shelton] and Taylor succeed and I think it gives us motivation, especially for the guys who are around No. 100 or so.”
Among those he might consult is former American star John Isner, though Svajda already knows what type of counsel he’d receive. “It’s definitely cool to see. I’m very close with John Isner, so maybe I’ll talk to him [about facing Djokovic]. Although his advice would probably just be, ‘Lots of aces would be good!'”
The statistical challenge facing Svajda is daunting. Djokovic boasts a 76-1 record against players ranked outside the top 100. Wednesday will reveal whether the Serbian legend extends that dominance to 77-1 or if the 22-year-old American has found something special to spring the upset of the tournament.
