It’s been around six weeks since Novak Djokovic last played a singles match in a competitive setting.
Instead of joining a warm-up tournament on hard courts before the US Open, the 24-time major champion decided to spend time with family, gearing up for the last Grand Slam of 2025.
He appeared somewhat rusty during his match against unranked American teenager Tien, winning with scores of 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday night.
The match featured a total of four double faults and 34 forced errors from Djokovic.
“I was quite surprised by how second set felt,” explained the seventh seed, noting some discomfort in his big toe early in the third set. “I’m glad they fixed it later in the second set. The third set went better, and I was able to finish strong.”
Djokovic acknowledged moments of struggle, stating, “Sometimes it’s positive, but if you don’t feel like you did in the second set, then it’s tricky because it becomes even more challenging.”
While he didn’t play at his best, he managed to advance without too much trouble.
He wrapped up the first set in just 24 minutes, but Tien posed challenges during the second set with his powerful ground strokes.
Djokovic had to fend off four breakpoints to maintain the set, finally earning a tiebreak after initially trailing due to a mini-break.
The third set was much simpler. Djokovic quickly took control and claimed victory over his younger rival.
“It was a peculiar match. The first set felt like it lasted 20 minutes, while the second felt like 20 years,” Djokovic remarked. “Staying focused in the second set was key, and I felt better afterward. There’s always room for improvement, but this was a nice way to kick off my campaign this year.”
Looking ahead to the US Open, Djokovic shared that he aims to participate in all four major tournaments. They provide motivation and joy for him at 38.
However, it’s uncertain if this break ahead of the tournament will enable him to regain his top form, especially since he last secured a major title at the 2023 US Open.
