The US Open
With due caution, Djokovic moves into the second round of the US Open
Djokovic joins Federer with 89 wins at Flushing Meadows
August 27, 2024
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Novak Djokovic is chasing his fifth US Open title in two days at Flushing Meadows.
By ATP staff
Like stepping into a comfortable bathtub, Novak Djokovic eased into defending his title at the US Open on Monday night, although he has a few wrinkles to get out of the upcoming rounds.
Returning to hard courts for the first time since Indian Wells in March and playing his first tournament since winning gold at the Olympics on clay in Paris three weeks ago, Djokovic did not bring his clean sheet to Arthur Ashe Stadium. The four-time champion threw 10 double faults, hit just 47 percent of her first games and committed 40 unforced errors.
But despite the blemish on the score sheet, Djokovic remained in full control of his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Albot, sealing a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory in two hours and seven minutes, sending fans into a frenzy. their way just before midnight.
Joking before the match that he wanted revenge on Albot, who succeeded his brothers Marko and Djordje, Djokovic took the record 78th win by a man inside Ashe.
“I wanted to start the tournament the right way and I think I did,” Djokovic told ESPN. “One of the ups and downs I think is normal, getting the rust off your shoulders comes from a different environment and the Olympic Games.
“It’s been six months since I’ve played on hard courts, so I’m still getting the hang of it, getting the tempo on the court.”
Tied with multi-time Open winner Roger Federer (89), second only to Jimmy Connors (98), Djokovic was undaunted by his return to hard courts in his first appearance since winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris, where completed the Golden Slam career.
Expulsion 25th big break with Australia’s Margaret Court, Djokovic will next face fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, who defeated Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in five sets.
No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings is also chasing his 100th the topic of the work these two days.
Djokovic, who won the first of his four US Opens in 2011, improved to 30-7 on the season. In his Grand Slam career, the 37-year-old is 62-1 against players outside the Top 100 and at the US Open he is 41-0 against players outside the Top 50. Albot dropped to 107-147 according to Infosys ATP. Match Wins Index.
The defender champ calls R2 🚢 @uvule | #USOVula | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/b7dGrz52za
– ATP Tour (@atptour) August 27, 2024
World No. 138 Albot makes his 10th The appearance of the US Open main draw after qualifying for the third time.
Albot had a brief moment of momentum in the second set when he broke back at 2-all and led 40/0 on serve, but Djokovic responded with a flurry of deep serves to win five straight points to retake the lead for good.
