Queens, NY—Novak Djokovic kicked off his US Open campaign with a 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over Learner Tien at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, proving yet again why he’s one of the sport’s greatest. Despite not feeling 100% physically, Djokovic showed his resilience and experience, securing his 75th consecutive opening-round win at a Grand Slam.
The 38-year-old Serbian made history with the win, becoming the first player, male or female, in the Open Era to achieve such a streak in singles main draws, according to Opta Ace. The match marked his first since his semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon last month.
“I started great. Just over 20 minutes in the first set, I felt really good,” Djokovic said. “Then, we had some long games in the second set, and I started to feel really bad. I was surprised at how poor I was feeling physically.”
Despite dropping his level in the second set, Djokovic regained his composure in the third, finishing strong to secure the win.
“I’m glad I reset myself after the second set,” he added. “The third set was better, and I was able to finish it off.”
Djokovic, currently ranked No. 7, is eyeing his fifth US Open title, which would tie him with legends Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer for the most titles in the tournament’s history. Next up for Djokovic is Zachary Svajda in the second round on Wednesday.
“Good thing I have two days off now,” Djokovic said, acknowledging his physical struggles during the match. “But there’s no injury. It’s just tough to stay in long rallies and recover after points.”
