Novak Djokovic's Concerning US Open Debut

Novak Djokovic made a far-from-routine start to the US Open, battling through leg troubles to beat Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2. As the 38-year-old looked exhausted and hurt at times, his age finally began to show. Djokovic overcame a blister on his right big toe and a troubling lower left leg, making him question his ability to stay competitive. Despite pulling through, his performance raised questions about whether he can still contend for a fifth US Open title.

Key Takeaways:

• Djokovic struggled with a blister on his right big toe, which required treatment during the match.
• He also had issues with a lower left leg, which appeared to bother him throughout the second set.
• Djokovic attributed his struggles to difficulty staying in long exchanges and recovering after points.
• Despite struggling, Djokovic managed to win the match, improving to 19-0 in the first round of the US Open.
• Djokovic skipped all hard-court tournaments leading into the US Open, which may have contributed to his winded performance.
• Tien, Djokovic's opponent, believes the Serb can still play his best tennis and has a shot at the title.
• Djokovic plans to take an extra day of rest before his second-round match, which may help alleviate his current physical issues.
• Djokovic has made a career of wearing down his opponents, but his age and recent struggles have raised concerns about his ability to sustain this level of play.

Statistics:

• Djokovic spent 24 minutes playing the first set, then took nearly an hour longer to complete the second set.
• He received his second time violation of the match during the tiebreaker of the second set.
• Djokovic has won 75 straight first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
• This was Djokovic's first match since falling to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals.
• Djokovic has made a career of winning on his serve, but he struggled to hold onto it at times during the match.

Sources:

• Saipan Daily News
• SyndiGate Media Inc.