Predicting the Men's and Women's 2025 US Open Champions | TC Live

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Novak Djokovic made a winning start to his 2025 US Open campaign on Sunday night, taking out giant-killing American Learner Tien in straight sets in the first round of the last major of the year, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

And with that victory, the four-time US Open champion unlocked a new milestone: it was his 80th career win in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He's the first man ever to win 80 matches in the largest tennis stadium in the world, since it made its debut at the US Open in 1997.

MOST CAREER WINS IN ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM (men):

  • 80: Novak Djokovic (2007-2016, 2018-2021, 2023-2025)
  • 77: Roger Federer (2003-2015, 2017-2019)
  • 64: Rafael Nadal (2005-2011, 2013, 2015-2019, 2022)
  • 41: Andre Agassi (1997-2006)
  • 40: Andy Roddick (2001-2012)

Djokovic is the second player, male or female, to win 80 matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium, after Serena Williams, who won 103.

Djokovic is a four-time champion at the US Open, winning in Flushing Meadows in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.

Djokovic is a four-time champion at the US Open, winning in Flushing Meadows in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.

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When the draw was made, this was one of the toughest first-round match-ups. Djokovic hadn't played a match since Wimbledon, and Tien had an incredible 4-1 record against Top 10 players this year.

But the favorite came out firing on Sunday night, rolling through the first set—there was some danger in the second set, as Djokovic faced a set point in his 4-5 service game, but he saved it, held and eventually clinched the set in a tie-break to secure a two-set lead.

Tien broke serve in the first game of the third set but it was all Djokovic from there, as the 24-time Grand Slam champion won five games in a row for a 5-1 lead, and then—after getting broken while serving for the match—broke the American one last time to close it out.

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Eighty seemed to be the magic number for Djokovic on Sunday, as he not only scored his 80th career win on Ashe, but this is also his 80th career appearance at a Grand Slam event. He's just the third man in tennis history to play that many majors, after Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez, who contested 81 major tournaments each.

Awaiting the Serb in the second round will be another American, Zachary Svajda, who won an all-qualifier battle against Hungary's Zsombor Piros earlier in the day, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.

Djokovic will be playing against Svajda for the first time.