Novak Djokovic kicked off his US Open campaign with a commanding victory on Monday night, defeating Radu Albot in straight sets.
The Serbian champion Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title and tied a historic record previously held by Roger Federer at the New York tournament.
In his first match since clinching gold at Paris 2024, the former world No. 1 and current world No. 2 cruised past Albot with scores of 6-2, 6-2, and 6-4 in just two hours and seven minutes. “I love playing night matches, but maybe not quite this late,” Djokovic remarked on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
With this win, the 37-year-old Serbian joined Federer as the second player with the most victories at Flushing Meadows, both with 89, trailing only Jimmy Connors’ 98.
The reigning US Open champion didn’t need to exert maximum effort in his opening match. Should Djokovic successfully defend his title, he would surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Despite 10 uncharacteristic double faults against Albot, Djokovic only faced three break points, conceding just one. Albot, ranked 138th in the world, had never prevailed in any of his previous 11 encounters against top-10 players and only offered some resistance in the third set, where he briefly led 2-3.
The Balkan, seeking his 100th career title and aiming to become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, didn’t want to prolong the match. He broke Albot’s serve to secure his place in the second round.
In the next round, Djokovic will face his compatriot Laslo Djere, a formidable opponent who pushed him to the limit in the third round of the 2023 US Open. Djokovic had to recover from two sets down to win that epic five-set match.
The US Open draw places Djokovic on the opposite side of the bracket from top-seeded Jannik Sinner and third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, meaning a potential showdown with either of them.
The 2024 US Open, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, will be a thrilling tournament filled with exciting matches and unexpected upsets.
Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and current world No. 2, will be looking to extend his dominance and secure his 25th Grand Slam title. Other top contenders include Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3), and the rising star and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The women’s singles draw is also expected to be highly competitive, with players like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Ons Jabeur all vying for the championship.
Other notable highlights in men’s included the emergence of young American talent Ben Shelton, who reached the quarterfinals in his debut at the US Open. The tournament also featured exciting doubles matches and mixed doubles competitions, showcasing the depth and talent of the tennis world.
The tournament runs from August 26 to September 9. Tennis fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the exciting matches and potential upsets that this year’s US Open has in store.
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