Novak Djokovic started his quest to develop into the primary participant to seize 25 Grand Slam titles with victory underneath the intense lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium in opposition to Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.
Having accomplished the profession Golden Slam – profitable all 4 Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold – Djokovic is aiming to seize a twenty fifth main crown that can see him transfer previous Margaret Court docket and take sole possession of the all-time file.
The world No 2, who’s favorite to develop into the primary participant to efficiently defend his New York title since Roger Federer in 2008, eased to a snug 6-2 6-2 6-4 win in opposition to Albot.
The 37-year-old Serb had greater than sufficient weapons to deal with the Moldovan journeyman of their first assembly.
Whereas having by no means performed Albot earlier than, Djokovic mentioned he had carried out his homework on the 34-year-old, who beat each his youthful brothers Marko and Djordje throughout their enjoying days.
Djokovic duly avenged the household title in three rsets, closing out the match with a giant serve to arrange an all-Serbian conflict with Laslo Djere for a spot within the third spherical.
Story of the Tape
Stephens knocked out as teen star Jovic wins
Clara Burel fought again from being bageled within the first set to defeat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 0-6 7-5 7-5, kicking off the opening evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Burel regarded rattled within the glare of the New York highlight however after settling down and eliminating some clumsy errors early on she outfoxed her extra skilled opponent to advance to a second-round match in opposition to Victoria Azarenka.
“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning and Sloane was playing really well,” mentioned Frenchwoman Burel. “I just kept fighting and I found a way.”
Burel grew to become the primary participant within the Open Period to win a ladies’s singles match 0-6 7-5 7-5 on the US Open, and solely the second total at a Grand Slam occasion after Marta Marrero on the French Open 24 years in the past.
Iva Jovic, a 16-year-old from California, grew to become the youngest American to win a ladies’s main-draw match at Flushing Meadows since 2000, knocking out 2023 Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette of Poland 6-4 6-3.
“Surprised, but not surprised,” Jovic mentioned concerning the outcome. “I just had a plan about what I was going to do before we started, and there weren’t that many needs for crazy adjustments, because it was going well. So just kind of sticking to that.
“I need to be one of the best that I might be,” Jovic added. “Simply get higher every single day, actually. Simply preserve working. I am on a superb path, however there’s much more to do.”
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