Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of historical past started with a take a look at of endurance on Sunday night time on the U.S. Open. The 38-year-old Serbian, a 24-time main champion aiming for a file twenty fifth this fortnight, opened his marketing campaign with a 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over 19-year-old American wildcard Learner Tien in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On paper, the straight-sets scoreline appears to be like routine. In actuality, it was trickier. Djokovic, dealing with a blossoming giant-killer half his age, raced by the opening set however quickly discovered himself locked in a grueling second. Visibly struggling, the person who has lengthy prided himself on supreme health admitted he was stunned by how poorly he felt.
Afterwards, he admitted that the fatigue he felt is weighing on his thoughts.
“Nicely, I began nice,” Djokovic stated. “Then some lengthy video games within the second set, I began to really feel actually… I used to be actually stunned how dangerous I used to be feeling within the second bodily. Good factor is that I’ve two days off. It’s barely a priority. I don’t have an harm or something. I simply struggled to remain in lengthy exchanges and get well after factors.”
Nonetheless, when the strain mounted, the Grand Slam king responded. Djokovic steadied his nerves within the tiebreak, reasserted management within the third, and closed out the night time after two hours and 17 minutes of play.
“It was key for me to carry my nerves within the second set and clinch it in a tie-break,” he defined. “After that I began feeling higher. I can at all times do higher, but it surely’s an effective way to begin this 12 months’s marketing campaign.”
Regardless of the bodily struggles, which included an proper toe blister that wanted medical consideration, Djokovic left Arthur Ashe Stadium in good spirits. His expertise, resolve, and skill to navigate adversity have been on full show, even when his physique betrayed him at occasions. The search for 25 continues, and the champion—battle-tested already—stays very a lot within the battle.
"I truly wasn't speaking in regards to the blister once I was speaking about my struggles," he stated. "It was extra simply the bodily wrestle on the court docket within the second set.
"The blister, yeah, okay, it bothered me for a bit, but it surely wasn't a difficulty. I am not involved about blister. It is extra simply general feeling of, yeah, simply restoration after the factors, lengthy rallies wasn't that nice at the moment."
