Asked about his health during an on-court interview, Djokovic deflected the question, saying, “I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about this now”. I’m through. I’m taking it day-by-day. He hit second serves in the low 80s miles per hour.
Advertisement
One could easily tell the right arm injury was bothering him even after treatment, as his serve was clocked at only 100 miles per hour – or about 25 miles per hour less than his usual average.
Djokovic’s coach, Boris Becker, gnawed on his fingernails, looking nervous as can be.
All in all, Djokovic’s issues figure to loom large as the tournament progresses, and therefore were the most noteworthy development on Day 1 at Flushing Meadows that did include drama elsewhere.
But the German did it the hard way, squandering a 4-1 second set lead and having to save two set points in the tiebreaker. And 26th-seeded Jack Sock’s five-set victory over 18-year-old Taylor Fritz in another all-American matchup.
Australian Open champion and second seed Angelique Kerber of Germany, third-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza and Czech Petra Kvitova, a twice former Wimbledon champion, are also in second-round action.
Up 3-2 in the opening set, Djokovic called for a medical time out during the changeover as Janowicz took a seat in the stands while the world number one had his forearm massaged.
“It’s good, as I said, just to finish the match”.
But the French Open champion needed courtside treatment from a doctor after dropping the first set on the Louis Armstrong Court.
Ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame a spirited fight from James Duckworth to win 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 and move into the third round.
Ana Ivanovic, the 29th seed, crashed out of the U.S. Open in the first round for the second straight year after a 7-6 (4), 6-1 loss to Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic at Flushing Meadows here on Tuesday.
In another early match, Britain’s Kyle Edmund, making his US Open debut, upset 13th-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. The Djokovic of old roared to life and he polished off the last two games, winning the match when Janowicz whacked a forehand long.
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 United States dollars 150million roof, before it was their turn to play.
That match, which finished just before 1:50am local time, is the latest finish to a women’s match in US Open history.
The bad news for Nadal?
Nadal, who missed the French Open and Wimbledon with a wrist injury, said after his win: “The most important thing is that I am here in NY”.
“Is not easy to go two months-and-a-half out of competition in the middle of the season without hitting a forehand”, Nadal told reporters.
Both said things are improving.
But as Toni noted: “We need a little time”.
Istomin, who is from Uzbekistan and is ranked 107th, was not exactly likely to give Nadal much of a test.
The two-time US Open champion will next play Italy’s Andreas Seppi. “I was playing on adrenaline”, said 24-year-old Harrison who was as high as 43 in the world in 2012. “A lot of short balls”.
Advertisement
“It’s getting better and better each day”, Djokovic said about his healthy.
