(August 26, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – Novak Djokovic, the second seed started his quest for a record 25th major title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win against qualifier Radu Albot on opening night at the US Open on Monday. The 37-year-old Serb, 24-time major winner dominated the 34-year-old Moldovian qualifier in just two hours.
With his 89th US Open match win on Monday night, Djokovic ties Roger Federer for second-most wins at the event in men’s history. Now 89-13 in New York, Djokovic trails only Jimmy Connors (98-17) on the US Open’s all-time list.
Djokovic, the defending champion, led off the match winning the first five games and was never close to being challenged.
Djokovic improves his record to 18-0 in first-round matches at the US Open. He has never lost before the third round in New York, falling at that stage in his first two outings in 2005 and 2006.
“I think it was a solid start,” said Djokovic to media. “Look, I struggled with my serve and the rhythm on certain shots. Overall from the back of the court I thought I played pretty well.
“It’s always challenging to start, particularly when you haven’t played on this surface for five, six months and coming off an Olympic gold and playing on clay. I haven’t had any official matches before US Open. So I’m expecting to be probably challenged a little bit more in the opening rounds.
“Hopefully I can play better each day. The good thing about slams is you have a day between matches where you can train, where you can really work on things and perfect your game. That’s what I need. That’s what I feel like I need.
“So I’m going to hit the practice courts tomorrow and work on things that haven’t really worked during the match and, yeah, keep striving to be better.
“The knee is fine really. I haven’t had any issues throughout the entire Olympic tournament and here first round. Knock on wood, it’s all good.”
Djokovic congratulated Dominic Thiem on his career as the Austrian who won the 2020 US Open, lost on Monday and will retire at the end of the year.
“Well, I would like to congratulate him on a great Grand Slam career. I know he’s going to play I think his home tournament or maybe one or a few more other tournaments. I think that’s where he is going to retire, in Vienna.
“This is the only Grand Slam he has won. He has played I think another three finals. So just one of the nicest guys, really, on the tour for many years. He’s been respected. He’s been admired. He’s been loved by his peers, by colleagues, by everyone on the tour. Of course, fans.
“He put in so much work over the years, and I think he was a great example for many players that see what’s happening, so to say, behind the scenes. He always puts in the extra work, and the tenacity and intensity that he brings on and off the court in everything he does is something really remarkable.
“It’s really unfortunate for a player of his caliber that was really almost on top of the world, and being a top-3, top-5 player for years to go through the injury of the wrist that really, yeah, made him struggle. He was never the same player after that. It’s unfortunate.
“But, again, I guess when he draws the line, he can definitely be happy with what he has achieved, and he’ll be remembered.”
“I wanted to kick start the tournament in the right way and I think I did,” Djokovic said on ESPN. “Some ups and downs which I think is normal, getting the rust off your shoulders coming off a different surface and the Olympic Games.
“I haven’t played on hard courts for six months, so I’m still finding that groove, finding the tempo on the court.”
More to follow….
Sixteen-Year-Old Iva Jovic Makes Winning Debut at US Open: Novak Djokovic Begins Quest for 25th Major with Easy First Night US Open Win
