By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tueday, August 27, 2024
Picture credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
NEW YORK—US Open night time fights are thrill rides for followers and depleting duels for Novak Djokovic.
Grand Slam king Djokovic launched his US Open title protection defeating Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night time.
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Djokovic raised his US Open report to 89-13, equaling Roger Federer for second most US Open males’s singles wins behind all-time chief Jimmy Connors (98-17).
The 37-year-old Serbian celebrity stated recovering from Arthur Ashe Stadium night time matches is tougher as he is aged.
“Properly, I do not assume that growing old helps actually staying so late and enjoying very late,” Djokovic stated. “I can really feel, , my batteries are low now. I am shutting down. However it’s been an extended wait, to be trustworthy. I assumed I’ll exit on the court docket, like, 8:15 p.m. as a result of [Sloane] Stephens was 6-Love, 3-Love serving after which swiftly it seems to be a two and a half hour match or no matter.
“Yeah, you simply have to simply accept it, I suppose. These are the cases the place you are scheduled second after 7:00, 7:30 or regardless of the begin was. I like enjoying night time matches, however I really like to start out first.”
The Olympic gold-medal champion stated he is desperate to play one other night time session—he prefers opening the night fairly than closing it.
“Hopefully I get extra possibilities to play at night time and am scheduled first so we are able to begin at a extra respectable time and end at a extra respectable time,” Djokovic stated. “I suppose for the followers there’s something particular about this late-night finishes, notably post-midnight.
“For us I do not know. It is not likely what you need, however, , in the event you get a W, then it is all good.”
The second-seeded Djokovic will not get his want instantly. Djokovic is scheduled to face compatriot Laslo Djere in an all-Serbian second spherical that is the second night time match on Ashe Stadium tomorrow night time.