Djokovic fights hard to secure US Open first-round victory

Djokovic, who hasn’t secured a Grand Slam title in over two years, struggled to find his best form against Learner Tien in the opening round at Flushing Meadows.

In the opening round of the US Open, Novak Djokovic provided a demonstration of resilience against the American teenager Learner Tien, overcoming him with a score of 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2. This victory marks Djokovic’s 80th at Arthur Ashe Stadium and his 75th consecutive win in opening-round matches at the Grand Slams since the sport turned professional in 1968, with 55 of these victories being in straight sets.
Djokovic, now 38, participated in his first singles match since making it to the Wimbledon semifinals last month. He switched his traditional whites for a sleek all-black outfit and battled through to win despite experiencing physical challenges during the match.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic pointed out the stark contrast between the two sets. “It was a strange kind of match,” he said, noting the first set took only 20 minutes, while the second set lasted for an hour and 20 minutes. Despite facing a time violation and engaging in a heated exchange with the chair umpire, he managed to secure the win, demonstrating his ability to handle pressure.
The 19-year-old Tien, who attempted to end Djokovic’s streak of unbroken success in opening round matches since the 2006 Australian Open, had opportunities to level the score but faltered in the tie-break.
After medical attention for a right foot blister, Djokovic’s game improved, showcasing powerful groundstrokes to clinch a 3-1 lead in the third set. He secured his place in the next round against American Zachary Svajda.
Though relieved to have two days off to recover, Djokovic does not consider his performance a complete success, aiming for improvement. He noted his struggle to maintain long exchanges and recover between points, and acknowledged his absence from winning a Grand Slam title since the 2023 US Open.