Who Is Zach Svajda? Meet the American Who Took a Set Off Novak Djokovic at the US Open

What Playing Novak Djokovic Taught a 22-Year-Old About Belonging

When Zach Svajda walked onto Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, he wasn’t just playing a tennis match.

Across the net stood Novak Djokovic, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and one of the greatest players of all time.

For most guys in their early 20s, that moment would be paralyzing.

Zach was calm.

“Playing Novak has always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid.”

He stayed with Djokovic through a tense opening set, then did something almost no one expected. He took it in a tiebreak, sending a shock through the stadium.

“I was just looking around and thought, wow, this is a full stadium. This is really cool.”

Djokovic eventually took control and won the match. But for Zach, the result wasn’t the point.

“That match gave me a lot of confidence. I know now that if I play well, I can compete with anyone.”

That realization changed everything.

We talk about this exact shift in How to Know When It’s Time to Bet on Yourself, because belonging rarely comes from winning. It comes from proof.

The Making of Someone Who Belongs

Zach’s story doesn’t start under bright lights. It starts quietly, in San Diego.

“I started when I was two years old. I don’t even remember it.”

His dad was a former college player and coach. Tennis was always around. By 11, Zach had already chosen it over baseball.

“I got homeschooled in third grade, so I was playing tennis like all day.”

By 16, his life had already separated from everyone else his age.

“I was sixteen when I won it. I wasn’t expecting it.”

Winning Kalamazoo, the most prestigious junior tournament in the U.S., earns a wildcard into the US Open.

“Most kids my age were starting high school. I was playing my first Grand Slam.”

That’s when life sped up.

If you’ve ever felt behind because your path looks different, How Do I Build Confidence When I Feel Behind breaks down why comparison distorts progress.

Facing the Best in the World

Years later, after grinding through lower-level tournaments and long weeks on the road, Zach saw the draw.

Djokovic.

No panic. No spiraling.

The night before, he kept things normal. Dinner with his brothers and coaches. Laughing with friends. Staying grounded.

Then he walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I was just looking around and thought, wow, this is a full stadium. This is really cool.”

He played freely. Loose. Aggressive. Confident.

Winning that first set wasn’t just a tennis moment.

It was proof.

Proof that he belonged on that court.

According to analysis from the ATP Tour, first-time Grand Slam opponents almost never take opening sets off top-five players. Zach doing it wasn’t luck. It was readiness paying off.

The Sacrifices You Don’t See

From the outside, pro tennis looks glamorous. Stadiums. Travel. Big moments.

The reality is quieter and harder.

“I’m traveling about 30, 35 weeks a year.”

At 17, Zach moved to Los Angeles to train.

“I got my first apartment when I was 18, but before that I was just in a hotel for like eight months.”

That kind of life forces maturity fast.

“In any top sport, you kind of have to be a little selfish at times. Your job comes first. But I’ve learned I need balance too. Otherwise you burn out.”

That lesson didn’t come from winning.

It came from surviving the grind.

This mirrors what we talk about in How Do I Keep Going When Everything Feels Hard, where structure and balance matter more than hype.

The Mental Edge That Changes Everything

At the highest level, everyone can hit the ball.

What separates players is what happens in their head.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a tennis match, just hitting a yellow ball over the net.”

That perspective keeps pressure from taking over.

After losses, he resets quickly.

“Learn from the match, take the positives, and then move on to the next one.”

During matches, his self-talk stays simple.

“Forget about it. Move on to the next point. Keep swinging out.”

No drama. No spiraling. Just presence.

Sports psychology research from Harvard Medical School shows that athletes who reframe pressure as familiarity instead of threat perform significantly better under stress. Zach lives that in real time.

Lessons That Go Way Beyond Tennis

Even at 22, Zach’s perspective applies far beyond sports.

“Do something you enjoy and give it a hundred percent. Whether it’s tennis, acting, or being a lawyer, make sure you love it and then commit.”

One of the most important lessons came directly from Djokovic himself.

“Novak told me, all your buckets have to be full. Family, social life, your health, your career. If one is empty, you’re not going to perform your best.”

That idea connects directly to Why Consistency Feels So Hard Even When You Care. Burnout doesn’t come from effort. It comes from imbalance.

And if Zach could go back to 16?

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Enjoy it. Losing isn’t the end of the world.”

That’s wisdom most people don’t learn until much later.

The Bottom Line

Zach Svajda didn’t leave Arthur Ashe with a win.

He left with certainty.

Certainty that he belongs. Certainty that the work is paying off. Certainty that pressure doesn’t mean you’re out of place. Sometimes it means you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

That night wasn’t a peak.

It was a starting point.

FAQ: Zach Svajda and Playing Novak Djokovic

Who is Zach Svajda?
Zach Svajda is a 22-year-old American professional tennis player from San Diego who began playing at age two and turned pro after winning Kalamazoo at sixteen.

How did Zach Svajda qualify for the US Open?
He won the Kalamazoo junior tournament, which earns the winner a wildcard into the US Open main draw.

Did Zach Svajda really beat Novak Djokovic?
He won the first set in a tiebreak, which is extremely rare, and proved he could compete at the highest level, even though Djokovic won the match.

What did playing Djokovic teach him?
That he belongs on the biggest stage and can compete with anyone when he plays freely and confidently.

What advice does Zach have for guys in their 20s?
Do what you love, commit fully, keep balance in your life, and don’t let losses or pressure define you.