Novak Djokovic admitted that his daughter is 'not very happy' with him after his straight-sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff at the US Open confirmed he will miss her eighth birthday.
The 38-year-old rolled into the quarter-finals in New York but confessed that success on court sometimes comes at the cost of moments he would rather share at home.
Djokovic produced one of his sharpest performances of the tournament so far, dispatching Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in just over two hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Even a brief injury scare, which saw him call the trainer for treatment on his neck and forearm, could not derail him as he moved into his 58th Grand Slam quarter-final.
Novak Djokovic admitted that his daughter is 'not very happy' with him after his straight-sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff at the US Open confirmed he will miss her eighth birthday
|REUTERS/GETTY
His next opponent will be American Taylor Fritz, a player Djokovic has never lost to in ten previous meetings.
But while the Serb looked clinical on court, he cut a more reflective figure when asked about what his victory meant off it.
Tuesday marks his daughter Tara’s birthday, and Djokovic confirmed he will be absent.
“It is what it is. We predicted that might happen,” Djokovic said afterwards.
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“She was not very happy about it, me being absent from the birthday party. So don't remind me of that, please.
"But I'll try to win. Hopefully the win can be something she can be happy with.
"But again, yeah, daddy away and daddy present is a big difference, and I know that. It is what it is this year.”
Djokovic has been increasingly vocal about balancing tennis with family life.
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Novak Djokovic is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open
|REUTERS
After Wimbledon this summer, he chose to skip the North American hard-court warm-up events, prioritising time at home in Monaco over tournament appearances.
“I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family,” he explained earlier this month.
“To be honest, I think I’ve earned the right and the luxury of picking and choosing where I want to play. My focus is on the Slams, and I’ve said that before.”
His absence from his daughter’s birthday clearly stings, however, and Djokovic has hinted that such sacrifices will weigh heavily when he eventually decides to step away from the sport.
In a candid pre-tournament interview he admitted: “Those are the types of things I really don’t want to be missing anymore.
"On a personal level it’s important for me to be there, to show up for the people who’ve always shown up for me.”
Context only underlines the magnitude of his current campaign.
Djokovic is chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, which would make him the first player in history – male or female – to achieve that number.
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Novak Djokovic will do battle with Taylor Fritz in the last eight of the US Open on Tuesday
|REUTERS
He has also become the oldest man in the Open Era to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams in a single season, surpassing even Jimmy Connors’ longevity.
How he gets on against Fritz on Tuesday remains to be seen.