"My batteries are low now, I'm shutting down" - Novak Djokovic on late US Open 1R start after Sloane Stephens' marathon match
Novak Djokovic has shared his thoughts on starting his 2024 US Open campaign with a late-night encounter against Radu Albot. Djokovic said aging and night matches don't gel well for players, though he acknowledged that late finishes can be entertaining for spectators.
Djokovic wasn't at his best against Albot. However, the Serb didn't need to be to beat the Moldovan. Despite racking up an uncharacteristic 10 double faults and 40 unforced errors, the 24-time Major won the match 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 to equal his great rival Roger Federer's record of 89 wins at Flushing Meadows. Only Jimmy Connors, with 98, won more matches at the US Open than Djokovic and Federer.
After the emphatic start to his title defense, the World No. 2 attended a press conference, where he was asked how he feels these days to play late-night matches. Djokovic and Albot's match was delayed considerably after the previous match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, featuring Sloane Stephens and Clara Burel, went the distance, with Stephens ultimately losing 6-0, 5-7, 5-7.
The Serb said that it's getting more difficult for him to stay up late and play late into the night.
"I don't think that aging helps really staying so late and playing very late. I can feel, you know, my batteries are low now. I'm shutting down. But it's been a long wait, to be honest. I thought I'm going to go out on the court, like, 8:15 p.m. because Stephens was 6-Love, 3-Love serving and then all of a sudden it turns out to be a two and a half hour match or whatever," Djokovic said.
The World No. 2 went on to say that he favors night sessions only if gets to "start first." Djokovic added that while late-night finishes can be entertaining for fans, players feel differently about such matches.
"I like playing night matches, but I love to start first. So, yeah, hopefully I get more chances to play at night and am scheduled first so we can start at a more decent time and finish at a more decent time. I guess for the fans there is something special about this late-night finishes, particularly post-midnight. For us I don't know. It's not really what you want, but, you know, if you get a W, then it's all good," Djokovic added.
"It's great for Serbian tennis" - Novak Djokovic looking forward to his US Open 2R meeting with compatriot Laslo Djere
During the same press conference, Novak Djokovic said he was looking forward to his second-round clash against compatriot Laslo Djere, who needed five sets to get the better of Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round.
The World No. 2 said the pair's upcoming matchup at the US Open would be a boost for Serbian tennis, and praised his compatriot.
"It's great I mean for Serbian tennis, obviously, that two Serbian players are facing each other. It's a guaranteed third round for one of the Serbian guys. Hopefully it's going to be me, but Djere is a guy that really likes playing on a big stage," Djokovic said.
Djokovic and Djere had faced off in the third round of last year's US Open, and it looked as if the former would be ousted as the latter took a commanding two-set lead. However, the 24-time Major winner recovered brilliantly to win the last three sets to knock his compatriot out of the tournament.
If Djokovic prevails against Djere this time around as well, he will go on to face either Alexei Popyrin or Pedro Martinez.