Novak Djokovic has revealed that he struggled physically during his first-round win over rising young American Learner Tien in New York.
Eventually coming through 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 6-2, the Serb – going for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title at Flushing Meadows – looked sluggish and laboured during periods.
Having taken the first set in clinical fashion, the 24-time Grand Slam champion began to wilt in a lengthy second set, after which he then needed treatment for blisters.
Despite then securing safe passage into the second round of the US Open with a comfortable third set, Djokovic admitted after the match that he had indeed been struggling in typically humid New York conditions.
“I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points,” Djokovic explained, before going on to reveal that a lack of match practice prior to the year’s final major may have been a factor.
“I haven’t played an official match in six weeks. I had to deliver my A-game, which I think I did in the first set. In the second, particularly, it was surviving on the court. In the important moments I just put one more ball in the court than he did.”
Djokovic goes on to face another American in Zachary Svajda in the second round, and he admitted in his on-court interview that age is also playing its part, but that he is still motivated to keep competing with the younger stars of the sport.
“I wish I had Learner’s age – but when you come to the late 30s it’s about learning how to preserve the energy for what matters,” he said.
“I still have the flair, I still have the drive, and you guys give me the energy. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
