Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets victory over Radu Albot in the US Open first round, marking his 78th win on Arthur Ashe Stadium’s main showcourt.
Novak Djokovic has kicked off his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title with a commanding victory in the first round of the US Open. The Serbian star secured a straight-sets win, defeating Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Currently tied with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles in tennis history, Djokovic is on the verge of making history. His win against Albot marks the start of what could be a monumental tournament for the 37-year-old, who is looking to add another Grand Slam title to his already illustrious career.
This was Djokovic’s first match since winning Olympic gold just 23 days ago, a triumph he described as his “biggest sporting achievement.” Despite that success, Djokovic is still searching for his first Grand Slam title of the year, having claimed at least one major every year since 2017.
In a pre-match interview, Djokovic jokingly mentioned his desire to “avenge” his two younger brothers, Djordje and Marko, who both lost to Moldova’s Albot in the past. “I feel like there was so much at stake – I feel like there was revenge for my younger brothers,” Djokovic said after the match, his first-ever encounter with Albot.
Djokovic’s next opponent will be his compatriot Laslo Djere, whom he will face in the second round on Wednesday. While the scoreline against Albot was comfortable, Djokovic acknowledged that there are areas for improvement. He hit 10 double faults, made 40 unforced errors, and managed to land only 47% of his first serves.
Playing under a closed roof due to the humid conditions in New York, Djokovic took just 33 minutes to win the first set, breaking Albot’s serve twice before serving out the opener. However, despite the positive start, Djokovic was visibly frustrated at times, gesturing towards his player’s box throughout the match. The humid conditions seemed to affect him, and he was still wearing knee support following surgery in June.
Albot managed to put up more of a fight in the second set, breaking back to level at 2-2 after Djokovic conceded an early break. However, Djokovic quickly regained control, winning the next four games to take the set. In the third set, Albot resisted Djokovic’s pressure for longer, fending off five break points. But the four-time US Open champion eventually broke through at 3-3 and went on to seal the victory just as the clock struck midnight in New York.
Djokovic expressed his enjoyment of the night session despite the late hour. “I love playing night sessions but maybe not this late,” he said during his on-court interview. “Nevertheless, it was great fun and I want to thank everyone for staying.”
The victory also saw Djokovic set yet another record, earning the most wins (78) by a male player on Flushing Meadows’ main showcourt. Reflecting on the achievement, Djokovic added, “It’s the biggest stadium. Definitely the loudest we have in the history of our sport. The night sessions are the best in the world on Arthur Ashe.”
