He didn’t play again until the Olympics, where he lost the bronze medal match to Kei Nishikori.
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“He’s been one of the most popular players of all time, one of the most successful players of all time”, Djokovic said after defeating Jerzy Janowicz on Monday, reports First Post. “I can’t say enough about Frances”.
Djokovic’s musical interlude was in some ways a much needed bit of levity for the assembled fans who endured a mostly low-energy match from both players. But that appeared to be just fine against Janowicz, a former top-20 player who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2013 and is now ranked 247th after his own series of injury issues.
Novak Djokovic benefited from a stroke of good fortune as the world No 1 received a walkover into the third round of the US Open.
But despite the concerns, the world number one played down any injury fears. While that was an encouraging sign, it didn’t mean Djokovic’s night would be an easy one. The second-set loss was the first set dropped by Djokovic in the first round of a major tournament since 2010.
Myneni, ranked 143 in singles, had a match point in the eighth game of the fifth set but stiffness in the right thigh restricted his movement badly and he was forced out 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 5-7 after battling hard for three hours and 47 minutes in a marathon first round match.
The Serb was serving for the first set at 6-5 but struggled with her serve and faltered in the tiebreaker. Or to serve: That’s normally his most effective stroke, yet he double-faulted 15 times.
When the Serb broke Janowicz from 40/0 down in the opening game of the fourth, it looked nearly certain he would live to fight another day.
Normal service was resumed in the third and Djokovic moved in for the knockout punch, breaking Janowicz to open the fourth before wrapping up the match.
The 89th-ranked Allertova improved to 7-1 in first-round matches in majors, making her second main-draw appearance at the Open. Djokovic earned another service break and soon found himself holding match point.
Britain’s Kyle Edmund backed up his first round win over world number 15 Richard Gasquet with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory over USA wildcard Ernesto Escobedo on the back of 53 winners.
“There are periods of the year when you are not feeling 100 per cent”. I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about it now. “I’m through and taking it day by day”. The big Czech who shocked Novak Djokovic in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters is not to be taken lightly considering he is capable of destroying the opposition on his day.
The fifth-seeded Raonic was treated by a trainer for problems with his left wrist and left thigh during Wednesday’s match and generally looked tired as play went on.
Djokovic now progresses to the last-32 to play Argentine Guido Pella or Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny on Friday.
“Tomorrow is a new day. I hope that I’ll feel good overall, so I’m able to perform at my best for the next match”.
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In his first-round U.S. Open match Monday, he was pushed to five sets by 117th-ranked qualifier Saketh Myneni, spending almost 4 hours on court.
