Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis maestro, encountered a slight hiccup on his journey at the prestigious US Open. It was in the 2nd round that Djokovic’s opponent, fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, had to withdraw from the match due to physical issues. The contest, in truth, was already leaning heavily in Djokovic’s favor, with the World No. 1 leading by two sets and a break.
Despite the commanding position, Djokovic’s performance was far from flawless. He struggled with his serve and even had to call upon the physiotherapist between sets. In the post-match press conference, Djokovic opened up about the physical challenges he faced during the encounter.
“So far I haven’t served very well, especially for these two matches. I’m trying to find rhythm and serve also because if you don’t have good percentages you can have problems. Djere is a very solid player who attacks but who can also defend well, last year we got to the fifth set here and I knew that without the serve it would be very tough. Even now the first two sets have exceeded two hours and this certifies that it has not been easy. Nobody wants to see finals like this but it’s all linked to the physical battle we had and I have to be happy with the victory,” Djokovic remarked.
Looking ahead to the next round, Djokovic is set to face the rising star Alexei Popyrin. The Serbian acknowledged Popyrin’s improvement in recent times.
“He has improved a lot, he is a great tennis player and he has just won his first ATP Masters 1000. He has always had a great serve and a great forehand, now he has also improved his backhand and in the defensive phase. I know I have to expect a great match, I will analyze our previous matches and I will try to understand better what I have to do,” Djokovic shared.
As Djokovic continues his quest for glory at the US Open, fans and critics alike eagerly anticipate the battles that lie ahead for the Serbian champion.
