Novak Djokovic made a grand entrance at Arthur Ashe Stadium for his first match as an Olympic champion, sporting two shiny gold bags draped over his shoulders, a testament to his pride in achieving gold in Paris this summer.
However, the fast-paced nature of tennis means celebrations are quickly set aside. Despite relishing his gold medal, Djokovic turned his attention to defending his title at the US Open, where he secured a convincing victory over qualifier Radu Albot, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, advancing him to the second round. With this win, he now holds the record for the most matches won on Ashe, totaling 78.
Following his triumph in Paris, Djokovic took his time to bask in his achievement before focusing on the last Grand Slam of the year. In contrast to previous tournaments where he had to quickly shift his focus, the 37-year-old took several days in Paris to celebrate his victory. Afterward, he traveled to Belgrade, where he received a hero’s welcome from thousands of supporters and rode through the city at night connecting with fans.
The US Open marks Djokovic’s first hard court event since March and his fourth tournament on this surface for the year. As he aims to regain his rhythm without prior hard court matches, the second seed benefits from a favorable draw, with opponents like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev placed in the other half of the draw.
In his opening match against Albot, a 34-year-old Moldovan qualifier known for his tenacity despite a smaller stature, Djokovic initially struggled with his serve but quickly took control. He applied consistent pressure, taking advantage of Albot’s weaker serve and eventually securing a comfortable win.
Djokovic acknowledged the challenge of starting a tournament after several months away from hard courts, especially coming off an Olympic win and having not played any official matches prior to the US Open. He expressed his intention to improve with each match, taking advantage of the practice days available between rounds.
Three months post-knee surgery, Djokovic demonstrated impressive movement on the court, noting his knee felt fine despite wearing support.
Next, he faces fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, who triumphed over Jan Lennard Struff in a five-set match. Although Djere may seem an easier opponent, he has previously led Djokovic by two sets at last year’s US Open before Djokovic rallied to win.
Djokovic remarked on the significance of two Serbian players competing, noting it guarantees a place in the third round for one of them. With such a comprehensive career resume, having achieved every major accolade in tennis, Djokovic’s motivation for continuing to compete at a high level remains strong. He affirms his desire to inspire future generations, stating he still feels driven to make more history while enjoying his time on tour.