NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic appeared fatigued. He seemed to be nursing discomfort. At moments during the late-night match, he seemed to carry the weight of age.
Despite these challenges, Djokovic triumphed, extending his flawless record to 19-0 in the opening round of the U.S. Open, defeating Learner Tien with scores of 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
However, the 38-year-old champion expressed concern after a demanding first match since Wimbledon.
“I can’t pinpoint it. There aren’t any injuries, but I found it difficult to engage in lengthy rallies and recover between points,” Djokovic reflected.
He was frequently seen resting his hands on his knees during the second set and received treatment for a blister on his right big toe afterwards. However, after experiencing a serve break in the opening game of the third set, he rallied back to win the next five games and regain dominance.
This match marked Djokovic’s return to action following his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals, during which he battled an upper leg injury. It raised questions about whether he could contend for a fifth title at Flushing Meadows. The first set was breezed through in a mere 24 minutes, while the second set extended nearly an hour longer, revealing his struggle.
“I started strong, feeling great for the first set,” Djokovic shared. “But some grueling games early in the second set left me surprised at how drained I felt physically.”
Usually, it’s his opponents who feel the toll of extended play, but during the second set, it appeared to be Djokovic who was grappling with fatigue against a much younger opponent from California.
“Honestly, I wish I could swap ages with Learner Tien, but that’s not feasible,” Djokovic said in his post-match remarks.
His face flushed and he was visibly winded as the tiebreaker approached, leading to a second time violation that cost him a first serve.
Tien seized the opportunity to equalize at 3-all on Djokovic’s second serve before the seasoned player rallied to clinch the next four points.
Following that, he was attended to by a trainer at his bench. Although he seemed to be dealing with discomfort in his lower left leg late in the set, it was his right foot that required attention during the medical timeout.
Feeling rejuvenated in the third set, Djokovic powered through for his remarkable 75th consecutive first-round victory at a Grand Slam.
His last first-round win came at the U.S. Open in 2023. Djokovic opted out of all hard-court tournaments leading up to this major event, possibly contributing to his weariness during the match.
Yet, Tien remains optimistic about Djokovic’s chances.
“Clearly, Sinner and (Carlos) Alcaraz are on fire, but I wouldn’t count Djokovic out,” Tien remarked. “He knows how to bring his best game and rise to the occasion when it counts, so he still has a shot.”
Perhaps an extra day of rest before his next match will serve Djokovic well, thanks to this year’s tournament schedule starting on a Sunday.
“There are positives to take away, but I also hope to avoid the physical struggles I faced in the second set,” Djokovic concluded. “If that happens again, it would certainly complicate my experience on the court.”
