Djokovic Steadies To Pass Opening Test
Djokovic Steadies To Pass Opening Test
World No. 1 opens campaign for third US Open title
Novak Djokovic got his US Open title defence off to a winning start on Monday night with a topsy-turvy four-set triumph over Jerzy Janowicz on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The top seed prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 to keep his bid for 10 straight semi-finals or better at Flushing Meadows intact.
Cruelled by knee and lower back injuries for the first half of the season, Janowicz came into the match at No. 247 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and looking to reach the second round in New York for the first time since 2014.
With Djokovic holding for 3-2 in the opening set, the Serbian called for the ATP physio to massage his elbow. He went on to break for 4-2 and survived two break points when serving for the set, reeling off four straight points to take it when Janowicz pushed long.
The 25-year-old Pole is a former Wimbledon semi-finalist and began to show glimpses in the second set of the form, which has taken him as high as No. 14 in the world. He began to find his range on his big serves and thumping forehands, screaming himself on with encouragement when he broke the Serbian’s serve for 4-2.
Despite surrendering the break, Janowicz again dug deep to save three break points for 6-5. It was just the confidence boost he needed. A double fault from the World No. 1 gave Janowicz two set points, with a forehand lofted well long handing the Pole the set for 7-5.
Just when he looked to have stolen momentum, Djokovic put the foot down. He broke to open the third set and took the set 6-2 on his second set point with an off-forehand winner.
A net-cord backhand winner down the line brought up three break points at 3-1 in the fourth and Djokovic converted for 4-1.
A double fault from Janowicz brought up match point for the two-time champion. Djokovic took it when the Pole pushed a forehand narrowly long to book a second-round meeting with lefty Jiri Vesely, a player who claimed their only prior FedEx Head2Head encounter at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters earlier this year.
The Czech ground out a near-four hour result against unheralded Indian qualifier Saketh Myneni, 7-6(5), 4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.