Novak Djokovic advanced to the second round of the US Open after comfortably defeating Radu Albot in the opening match of the New York Slam. The Serbian champion demonstrated strong physical form right from the start. Having not played since his Olympic gold medal win, Djokovic now looks ahead to his second-round match against fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, a player who pushed him to a five-set battle at last year’s tournament.
During the post-match press conference, Djokovic touched on several topics, including the match schedule at Flushing Meadows, his upcoming second-round encounter, and the condition of his knee.
“Playing so late doesn’t help, and by the end, I could feel myself slowly getting tired. The wait to play was really long, and you just have to accept it. I enjoy playing night matches, but I prefer to go on earlier and finish at a more reasonable time. It wasn’t ideal, but when you win, everything feels fine,” Djokovic commented on the scheduling. He also spoke about his physical condition, particularly focusing on his knee.
“Today, I struggled a bit with my serve and some shots, but overall, I played quite well. It’s always challenging to get started, especially when you haven’t played on a surface for a while. I anticipate facing a few more difficulties in these early rounds. As for my knee, it’s doing really well—no issues at the Olympics or here, and I hope it stays that way,” he said.
Djokovic also expressed his thoughts on facing Djere in the next round. “It’s great to be here, and I’m happy to face Laslo. I saw him in the locker room, and we congratulated each other. It’s a big win for him, especially since he’s been recovering from an injury and working to regain his form. Winning in the first round against Struff is a fantastic achievement. Plus, it’s wonderful for Serbian tennis to have two players from our country competing against each other in a Slam. I hope to make it to the third round, but Djere excels on big courts and thrives in these conditions. He has a very flat backhand and a great serve, and he’s in good physical shape. I remember our last match well; it was a tough battle, and I’ll be reviewing it closely to prepare,” the Serbian champion explained.
Novak Djokovic after beating Albot at US Open
James Blake: “37 years old and you look like you’re moving at 21 years old. How do you do this for this long?”
Novak: “there’s not one word or secret that would describe it all. It’s just a way of life. Way to approach my tennis… pic.twitter.com/OQ7b2mJ4tM
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 27, 2024
