Novak Djokovic breezes into US Open second spherical | ATP Tour

US Open

With some clear as much as do, Djokovic eases into US Open second spherical

Djokovic joins Federer with 89 wins at Flushing Meadows

August 27, 2024

Like slipping into a cushty bathtub, Novak Djokovic eased into his title defence on the US Open Monday evening, albeit with a couple of wrinkles to iron out within the coming rounds.

Returning to laborious courts for the primary time since Indian Wells in March and taking part in his first event since profitable Olympic gold on clay in Paris three weeks in the past, Djokovic didn’t convey his cleanest recreation to Arthur Ashe Stadium. The four-time champion threw in 10 double faults, put simply 47 per cent of first serves into play and made 40 unforced errors.

However regardless of the stains on the stats sheet, Djokovic was at all times in full management of his first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly with Albot, closing out the 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win in two hours and 7 minutes, sending followers on their approach simply earlier than midnight.

Joking earlier than the match that he was in search of revenge on Albot, who has wins over his brothers Marko and Djordje, Djokovic captured a document 78th win by a male inside Ashe.

“I needed to kick begin the event in the appropriate approach and I feel I did,” Djokovic stated on ESPN. “Some ups and downs which I feel is regular, getting the rust off your shoulders coming off a unique floor and the Olympic Video games.

“I have not performed on laborious courts for six months, so I am nonetheless discovering that groove, discovering the tempo on the court docket.”

Shifting right into a tie with Roger Federer for many wins on the Open (89), second solely to Jimmy Connors (98), Djokovic was untroubled in his return to laborious courts in his first look since claiming the Olympic singles gold medal in Paris, the place he accomplished the profession Golden Slam.

Chasing a 25^th main to interrupt a tie with Australia’s Margaret Court docket, Djokovic subsequent faces fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, who defeated German Jan-Lennard Struff in 5 units.

The No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings can also be searching his 100^th profession title this fortnight.

Djokovic, who received the primary of his 4 US Opens in 2011, improved to 30-7 on the season. Over his Grand Slam profession, the 37-year-old is 62-1 versus gamers exterior the Prime 100 and on the US Open he’s 41-0 in opposition to gamers exterior the Prime 50. Albot slipped to 107-147 based on the Infosys ATP Match Wins Index.

The defending champ cruises to R2 🚢 @usopen | #USOpen | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/b7dGrz52za

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 27, 2024

World No. 138 Albot was making his 10^th US Open predominant draw look after qualifying for the third time.

Albot had momentum for a fleeting second within the second set when he broke again at 2-all and led 40/0 on serve, however Djokovic responded with a flurry of penetrating returns to win 5 consecutive factors to reclaim the lead in emphatic style.