Novak Djokovic, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, gained his first match on the U.S. Open since 2021 on Monday night time after beforehand lacking final 12 months’s match due to a vaccine mandate.
The win, which secured Djokovic’s return to No. 1 in world rankings, follows the Serbian tennis star’s lengthy hiatus from tournaments within the U.S. over his determination to not get vaccinated towards COVID-19 – a mandate for overseas residents touring to the U.S. on the time.
Novak Djokovic returns a shot towards Alexandre Muller throughout their Males’s Singles First Spherical match on Day One of many 2023 U.S. Open on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart on Aug. 28, 2023 within the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York Metropolis. (Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures)
“I would not say it provides a bit extra, the actual fact I have never performed right here for 2 years, it is simply the sensation is just about the identical,” Djokovic mentioned Friday earlier than his first match. “There’s at all times these expectations, pleasure, and ambition to win the title. That is just about the identical this 12 months.”
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Djokovic final performed the Grand Slam in New York two years in the past when he misplaced to Daniil Medvedev within the males’s singles ultimate. Nonetheless, on Monday night time, he performed with out lacking a beat in his 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Alexandre Muller.
“This court docket has seen a lot historical past and so many battles. Everybody is aware of in tennis that night time periods at Arthur Ashe undoubtedly are essentially the most thrilling, enjoyable, loud, energetic periods you possibly can have on the market on the tennis world,” he mentioned after his win.
“It is the dimensions. It is the echo due to the roof development. It is every little thing mixed. Simply individuals, New Yorkers, love their tennis. They do not care in the event that they keep up very late, put up midnight, as a result of they get excited.”
Novak Djokovic celebrates a degree towards Alexandre Muller throughout their Males’s Singles First Spherical match on Day One of many 2023 US Open on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart on Aug. 28, 2023 within the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York Metropolis. (Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures)
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“I like it. It is nice as a result of each Grand Slam has its personal appeal in a means,” he continued. “Right here it is all about leisure, enjoyable, good power, good vibes. For those who can feed on that, you may have quite a lot of enjoyable.”
Djokovic improved to 17-0 in first-round matches on the U.S. Open and warranted he’ll regain the No. 1 rating subsequent month. Regaining the highest spot again from Carlos Alcaraz will mark Djokovic’s 390th week atop the rankings, extending his personal document.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Alexandre Muller throughout their Males’s Singles First Spherical match on Day One of many 2023 US Open on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart on Aug. 28, 2023 within the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York Metropolis. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures)
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“I feel the efficiency explains how I felt tonight, significantly within the first two units. It was sort of lights-out tennis actually, nearly flawless, good first set,” he mentioned. “General I am very, more than happy with the way in which I really feel, with the way in which I am taking part in. Hopefully I can preserve that degree. It is just the start of the match, however I already like the extent of tennis.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
