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Defending champion Novak Djokovic kicked off his US Open by beating Moldova's Radu Albot in straight sets on Tuesday, August 27. Playing the final match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic blanked Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in 2 hours and 7 minutes to proceed to the second round of the competition.
Djokovic looked rusty on his return to the US Open but was dominant with his court coverage and serve. The Serbian star outplayed Albot in the first two sets of the game despite being poor with his serve. The competition was a little better in the third set of the match for Albot, but that was down to Djokovic making more unforced errors in the court.
Djokovic, who comes into the competition on the back of his Paris Olympics win, will hope to end his season on a high. The World No. 2 had not been able to replicate his usual brilliance for the better part of the season, losing the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon in 2024. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will hope to add one more and extend his lead at the top of the men's tennis world.
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While having never played Albot before, Djokovic said he had done his homework on the 34-year-old, who beat both his younger brothers Marko and Djordje during their playing days. Djokovic duly avenged the family name in three rusty sets, closing out the match with a big serve to set up an all-Serbian clash with Laslo Djere for a place in the third round.
Level on 24 Grand Slam titles with Margaret Court, Djokovic will hope for better from his game as he looks to take the record outright at Flushing Meadows.
