The Serbian called the trainer just five games in and then moped his way through the rest of the contest en route to a 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-1 victory over the Pole.
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“Obviously he hasn’t played many times on the Arthur Ashe Stadium”, Djokovic added.
Despite claiming the treatment on his arm had only been “preventative”, the 29-year-old was set for a more testing encounter against Vesely, ranked 49th in the world and who won their last encounter in Monte Carlo in April.
Nadal hadn’t played at a major since winning his second-round match at the French Open on May 26.
After withdrawing early from the French Open and ruling himself out of Wimbledon due to a wrist problem, the Spaniard had come to Flushing Meadows under an injury cloud.
“The most important thing is that I am here in NY”. Injuries are part of the career.
“It’s hard to put on show after Phil Collins”, said Djokovic, before breaking into one of Collins’ hits during his on court post-match interview.
Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, the runner-up to Andy Murray at Wimbledon, overcame German dangerman Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
The 2014 victor and Cincinnati champion Marin Cilic showed his seventh seed status by beating Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1. But he managed to get out of harm’s way.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the third round of a major for the 33rd successive time without hitting a ball when his scheduled opponent pulled out with an injury.
Earlier in the heat of the day, Rafael Nadal blew out Denis Istomin 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
While he said he’s feeling better day by day, Nadal also acknowledged “the wrist still bothers me a little bit”. I like playing there, especially with the roof construction. “So it’s always good to have the first round done”.
Second seed Angelique Kerber is also through, failing to drop a game before her opponent retired hurt.
In the women’s event, Roland Garros victor Garbine Muguruza required three sets and a visit from the doctor before she survived.
The 26-year-old Dane recovered from 0-4 down in the first set to record a seventh win in eight meetings and third in NY over the ninth-seeded Russian.
Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig, who won the gold medal in the women’s singles competition at the Rio Olympics, lost to China’s Zheng Saisai 6-4 6-2 in a surprising exit on Monday.
Djokovic may yet recuperate – he has proved his powers of recovery before – but his body will have to pass far stiffer tests if he is to lift a 13th grand slam title in two weeks’ time.
Djokovic insisted afterwards that his injury issues are improving and admitted that he was simply pleased to have booked his progress at Flushing Meadows. The others were 20th-seeded John Isner’s comeback from two sets down to edge 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe before a rowdy, standing-room-only crowd at the new Grandstand, and 26th-seeded Jack Sock’s five-set victory over another 18-year-old, Taylor Fritz.
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After splitting four sets, Myneni broke the Czech in the fourth game to take a crucial 3-1 lead and then built it to 5-2.
