At 38, Djokovic became the oldest men’s singles player to reach the tournament’s fourth round since Jimmy Connors achieved the feat in 1991.
The Serbian champion, in pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, also surpassed Roger Federer’s tally for most hard-court victories at majors, collecting his 192nd win.
Djokovic continued his dominance over Norrie, improving their career head-to-head record to 7-0.
“Of course, you always want to finish matches quickly, but sometimes it doesn’t go that way,” Djokovic reflected after the contest.
He added humorously that his coaching team “likes seeing him grind” for rhythm, given his six-week absence since Wimbledon.
Friday’s match, he noted, was a step up in performance compared to his earlier rounds in New York.
Djokovic broke for a 4-3 lead in the opening set and consolidated it with his ninth ace, before securing the set despite briefly leaving the court for treatment on his back.
Norrie battled hard, taking the second set via tiebreak after Djokovic’s first-serve pace dipped. But the Serbian regained control in the third, reeling off three straight games after being broken early.
He also exchanged words with a disruptive fan in the stands before settling back into rhythm, closing the match with precision and authority.
Next up, Djokovic will face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round as he continues his quest for another historic title run.
“I know there will be ups and downs, but I feel ready,” Djokovic said afterwards.
“My rivals don’t need to know everything about my body,” he smiled. “What matters is, I still feel as strong and motivated as ever.”