Novak Djokovic brushed off concerns over his fitness after the defending champion battled past Jerzy Janowicz in the US Open first round.
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Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Denis Istomin, of Uzbekistan, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in NY. Djoker had to call his physio midway in the first set of his match against Janowicz as he felt some discomfort in his upper right arm.
This was the No. 1-ranked Djokovic’s first match at a major tournament since losing to Sam Querrey in the third round of Wimbledon, which ended the Serb’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam after titles at the Australian Open and French Open.
The German, who can replace Williams as world No. 1 by winning the title at Flushing Meadows, will next play Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni – who made her grand slam debut here as a 15-year-old in 1997.
“It was just prevention, it’s all good”, Djokovic told reporters.
“He’s a really risky player, so I’m very happy to be through”. It’s all good. To be honest, I take it day by day.
Djokovic gets revenge and moves to the third round. “That’s what gave me a little bit more confidence”. “That’s very important thing for me, the most important thing”.
He still is working on feeling comfortable hitting down-the-line forehands, in particular, after sitting out – not just zero real matches, but barely any practice, either – from his withdrawal at the French Open in late May to the Olympics this month.
He exited the Rio Olympics in the first round this month, then sat out the Cincinnati Masters because of a sore left wrist.
Opening the first night session of the tournament, Djokovic and Janowicz had to wait for the conclusion of a lavish ceremony to unveil the stadium’s new U.S. dollars 150million roof, before it was their turn to play.
Janowicz was too careless to capitalise on any weakness in his opponent’s armour but Djokovic will have to survive tougher tests if he is to win his 13th grand slam title in NY.
The last two matches on the Grandstand will feature two US women facing each other. She was leading 6-2, 4-2 in the first round when her opponent, Madison Brengle, retired with an arm injury.
Meanwhile, 2014 champion Marin Cilic is through to the second round with a straight-set win.
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Nadal and Seppi play the nightcap on Ashe. Muguruza will now face Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia for a place in the last 32.
