Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title with a decisive victory over Radu Albot in the first round of the US Open.
A 25th major would give Djokovic sole possession of the all-time record for the most Grand Slam singles titles, currently shared with Margaret Court at 24.
The 37-year-old Serbian won 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in his first match since securing Olympic gold 23 days ago.
Djokovic, who has won nearly every major tennis title, described his Olympic triumph as his “biggest sporting achievement.”
Despite the win, Djokovic is still searching for his first Grand Slam title of the year, having won at least one each year since 2017.
Before the match, Djokovic humorously mentioned wanting to “avenge” his younger brothers, Djordje and Marko, who had previously lost to Albot. “I felt like there was so much at stake—revenge for my younger brothers,” Djokovic said after the match.
Djokovic will face compatriot Laslo Djere in the second round on Wednesday. While the scoreline was comfortable, Djokovic had areas to improve on, including 10 double faults and 40 unforced errors, with only 47% of his first serves in play.
Playing under a closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic took 33 minutes to win the opening set.
Despite a strong start, Djokovic appeared frustrated with the humid conditions and gestured towards his player’s box throughout the match.
He was also seen wearing knee support, a remnant of his June surgery.
After losing serve early in the second set, Djokovic broke back and won the next four games. Although Albot fended off five break points in the third set, Djokovic finally broke through at 3-3 and completed his victory just after midnight in New York.
“I love playing night sessions but maybe not this late,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview, thanking the fans for staying.
The win also allowed Djokovic to set a new record for the most victories (78) by a male player on Flushing Meadows’ main showcourt. “Arthur Ashe Stadium is the biggest and definitely the loudest in our sport,” Djokovic added.
