Absence makes the guts develop fonder.
Novak Djokovic made brief work of his first-round conflict towards Alexandre Muller on Monday on the US Open, the place the second seed raced to a 95-minute victory in his first match on the hard-court main since 2021. On the floor it appeared a routine opening triumph for the 23-time Grand Slam champion, however Djokovic later acknowledged there was one thing completely different about his 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 win on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I used to be excited to exit on the court docket,” stated the 36-year-old in his post-match press convention. “I did not care if I began after midnight as a result of I used to be trying ahead to this second for few years, to be out on the most important stadium in our sport, the loudest stadium in our sport, enjoying an evening session.
“It was a terrific pleasure to be stepping out on the court docket. I feel the efficiency explains how I felt tonight, significantly within the first two units. It was type of lights-out tennis actually, nearly flawless, an ideal first set.”
Djokovic’s Devastating Start To US Open
Djokovic fired 32 winners and transformed eight of 13 break factors he earned in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly with the World No. 84 Muller. It was a continuation of the fantastic type the Serbian confirmed in Cincinnati, the place he lifted his record-extending thirty ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown eight days in the past on the Western & Southern Open.
“I most likely had the reply for each shot he had in his ebook,” stated Djokovic. “Total, I am very, more than happy with the way in which I really feel, with the way in which I am enjoying. Hopefully I can preserve that degree. It is only the start of the event, however I already like the extent of tennis.”
Not messing round 😎@usopen | #USOpen | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/juK16AKGjV
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 29, 2023
Previous to Monday, Djokovic’s most up-to-date outing on Arthur Ashe Stadium was the 2021 championship match towards Daniil Medvedev, who denied the Serbian a historic calendar-year Grand Slam with a straight-sets victory. Nonetheless, the frustration of that loss has accomplished little to mood Djokovic’s affection for a court docket on which he has appeared in a report 9 US Open males’s singles finals and lifted the trophy thrice.
“It’s the largest stadium we’ve in tennis. This court docket has seen a lot historical past and so many battles,” stated Djokovic. “Everybody is aware of in tennis that night time periods at Arthur Ashe undoubtedly are probably the most thrilling, enjoyable, loud, energetic periods you’ll be able to have on the market on the tennis world.
“It is the scale. It is the echo due to the roof building. It is all the things mixed. Simply folks, New Yorkers, love their tennis. They do not care in the event that they keep up very late, post-midnight, as a result of they get excited.
“I find it irresistible. It is nice as a result of each Grand Slam has its personal allure in a manner. Evaluating to, for instance, Wimbledon, it is a full distinction. In Wimbledon it is completely different than right here. Right here is all about leisure, enjoyable, good vitality, good vibes.
“When you can feed on that, you will have a number of enjoyable.”
