Despite struggling with a right arm injury, 12-time grand slam champion Djokovic claimed a 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-1 win over Janowicz.
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“Serving for it I thought I definitely had it”, said a disappointed Tiafoe, the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone.
Djokovic, a U.S. Open finalist five of the last six years, next faces Czech Jiri Vesely, a five-set victor over Indian qualifier Saketh Myneni.
But in the second frame Djokovic’s discomfort became even more evident as he double faulted and then sent a wild forehand long as Janowicz broke to take control and level the match.
Djokovic claimed that the on-court treatment had been “just prevention” and that he had no problems.
“That is coming, because I feel the wrist much better, and every day feel that the wrist is a little bit better”.
“Was a good start for me obviously winning here in straight sets”, Nadal said.
Djokovic’s coach, Boris Becker, gnawed on his fingernails, looking nervous as can be.
Rafa Nadal was worn out from his Rio Olympics exertions after emerging from an injury absence to win doubles gold, but the Spaniard perked back up with his trip to NY for the U.S. Open.
Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion and seeded to face Djokovic in the semifinals, eased to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
More, too: A first-round loss by Rio Olympics gold medallist Monica Puig, and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza’s complaints about having trouble breathing after dropping the first set of a match she would go on to win in three. He had lost his past 20 matches against top-10 opponents.
Experienced Sam Querrey, who shocked Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, is seeded 29th while Jack Sock, the 23-year-old seeded 26th, stopped 18-year-old fellow American Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/3) 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4.
Nadal said he is re-energized being in NY after feeling worn out two weeks ago in Cincinnati, where he lost his second match after flying in from Rio.
As the spectacular new retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium makes its debut at this tournament, the weather forecast suggests – just as Wimbledon experienced in the year when the Centre Court roof first came into operation – that the glorious sunshine of the opening day will continue for most of the fortnight.
The good news, Nadal said afterward, is that the pain is gone from the part of his body that whips those violent, topspin-heavy forehands that are the key to his success – 14 of his 21 winners came off that wing. “I need confidence and I need to keep practicing the forehand”, Nadal said.
“It’s good, as I said, just to finish the match”.
“For the first set, I was feeling that he was not hitting hard”, Istomin said.
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“The most important thing is that I am here in NY”.
