Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over qualifier Radu Albot in the US Open first round. Fresh off his Olympic singles triumph in Paris, Djokovic returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he received a warm reception. Despite the enthusiastic crowd, Djokovic’s performance was below his usual standards, with 40 unforced errors and 10 double faults marring his play.
Djokovic’s coach, Nena Zimonjic, was visibly animated, offering advice as the Serb struggled to find consistency. Even with his subpar form, Djokovic managed to secure a record 78th win at Arthur Ashe, largely due to Albot’s inability to capitalize on Djokovic’s mistakes. The Moldovan, playing Djokovic for the first time, put up a fight but ultimately couldn’t keep up with the world number two.
As Djokovic progresses through the tournament, he aims to surpass Margaret Court’s record for the most Grand Slam titles and to match the five US Open titles held by Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, and Roger Federer. Additionally, Djokovic seeks to become the first back-to-back men’s singles champion since Federer’s dominant streak from 2004-2008. Despite the shaky start, Djokovic remains focused on these historic milestones.
