Tennis star, Novak Djokovic has admitted concerns over his physical sharpness after beginning his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets victory at the US Open.
The 38-year-old world No.2 overcame American teenager Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in just under two and a half hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the win was not without worry.
Djokovic required a medical timeout to treat a blister on his right foot and confessed afterwards that his stamina had dipped alarmingly during the second set.
“I started great, just over 20 minutes, first set, I felt really good,” Djokovic said.
“Then some long games to start the second set… I really was surprised how bad I was feeling in the second physically.
“We had long exchanges, but also, I kind of dropped my level and made a lot of unforced errors and kind of got him back into the match.
“There are positives but also things that hopefully won’t happen in terms of how I felt on the court physically in the second set.
“It’s slightly a concern. I don’t know. I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points.”
Djokovic, who has not played competitively since his Wimbledon semi-final exit last month, skipped the Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati to conserve his energy for New York.
Although flashes of rust appeared, the Serbian still displayed the touch and variation that have defined his career.
He dominated the opening set with ease, but Tien pushed back in the second, even earning a chance to break and level the match. Djokovic held firm at 5-5 before using his net play and shot-making variety to control the tie-break.
After a medical break for his right foot, Djokovic surged ahead 5-1 in the third set. Tien briefly rallied, saving a match point and breaking serve, but Djokovic immediately responded to close out the contest.
Reflecting on the battle, Djokovic paid tribute to his young opponent’s energy and highlighted the challenges of playing deep into his career.
“I wish I had Learner Tien’s age, when you come to the late 30s it’s about learning how to preserve the energy for what matters,” he told the crowd.
“I still have the flair, I still have the drive, and you guys give me the energy. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
Djokovic now turns his focus to a second-round clash with American qualifier Zachary Svajda as he continues his bid for yet another milestone.