2023-08-29 06:02:01
NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic reappeared at the US Open and will once once more be number one in the world rankings.
After missing the tournament last year, the Serbian star crushed France’s Alexandre Muller 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 on Monday night.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion had to wait for Coco Gauff to hammer away a three-set victory to open the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was followed by an opening ceremony celebrating 50 years since the US Open established the equality of prizes in the two branches. Former first lady Michelle Obama and tennis legend Billie Jean King were in attendance.
“Well, I knew it was going to be a long night for me, with a very late start,” said Djokovic. “Anyway, I was very excited to get on the court. The moment that I had been waiting for a couple of years, to be in the biggest stadium in our sport, the loudest stadium in our sport, playing the night session.”
Djokovic was unable to travel to the United States last year because he did not meet the requirement to be vaccinated once morest COVID-19. Monday’s was his first match at Flushing Meadows since he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the 2021 final, a loss that prevented him from completing the first Grand Slam in men’s tennis since 1969.
The second seed wasted no time. He took the first set in just 23 minutes and won the first eight games until Muller finally got on the scoreboard. The Frenchman raised his arms triumphantly following discounting to 2-1 in the second set.
“I think the performance explains how I felt tonight, especially in the first two sets. It was exceptional tennis, almost seamless, a perfect first set,” Djokovic said. “He had an answer for every shot he had in his repertoire.”
Djokovic went 17-0 in first-round meetings at the US Open and will return to the top of the rankings on September 11.
Since he did not play last year’s tournament and does not have to defend points, it was enough for Djokovic to reach the second round to displace Carlos Alcaraz from the top. It will be Djokovic’s 390th week as number one, extending his own record.
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