World No.1 Novak Djokovic won without playing his best to reach the second round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday in his quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam and record 21st Major title.
The 34-year-old Serbian, who has won eight of the past 12 Grand Slam events, dominated much of the way in beating 18-year-old Danish qualifier Holger Rune 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-1 after two hours and 15 minutes in the night feature at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It wasn’t the best of my performances,” Djokovic said. “At the same time, he played well in the second set when it mattered and I didn’t serve well in the second set.”
Rune, ranked 145th, began cramping in the third set and struggled to finish.
“From the third or fourth game in the third set, he couldn’t move much,” Djokovic said. “You could see he struggled a lot. I feel for him.”
Bouncing back
Djokovic won the first set in 26 minutes without facing a break point, fell behind 3-0 to start the second before battling into the tie-breaker, where Rune grabbed leads of 4-0 and 6-3. After two Djokovic service winners, he sent a backhand service return long to drop the set.
In the third set, Djokovic broke to lead 3-1 and Rune began getting treatments between games, grimacing at times and struggling to run for shots to the end.
Earlier on Tuesday, Olympic champion Alexander Zverev stretched his win streak to 12 matches and warned he has his eyes on denying Djokovic the Slam.
The fourth seed, who beat Djokovic in the Olympics semifinal, dispatched American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.
“I hope in two weeks’ time I’ll be on an 18-match winning streak,” said Zverev, who would claim his first Grand Slam title if he creates such a run.
French-born qualifier Maxime Cressy of USA fired 44 aces and saved four match points to upset Spanish ninth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(7).
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty, coming off wins at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, began her chase for back-to-back Slam titles by defeating Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 7-6(7).
Important first round results
Men: 1-Djokovic (Srb) bt Rune (Den) 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-1; McDonald (USA) bt 27-Goffin (Bel) 6-2, 7-5, 6-3; 21-Karatsev (Rus) bt Munar (Esp) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; Fritz (USA) bt 14-de Minaur (Aus) 7-6(4), 6-2, 1-6, 6-4; 10-Hurkacz (Pol) bt Gerasimov (Blr) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; Seppi (Ita) bt Marton Fucsovics (Hun) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(13); Otte (Ger) bt 20-Sonego (Ita) 6-7(8), 7-5, 7-6(4), 7-6(1); Pospisil (Can) bt 28-Fognini (Ita) 2-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(4); 6-Berrettini (Ita) bt Chardy (Fra) 7-6(5), 7-6(7), 6-3; 4-Zverev (Ger) bt Querrey (USA) 6-4, 7-5, 6-2; 31-Bublik (Kaz) bt Hanfmann (Ger) 6-0, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; 17-Monfils (Fra) bt Coria (Arg) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; 13-Sinner (Ita) bt Purcell (Aus) 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Cressy (USA) bt 9-Carreno-Busta (Esp) 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(7); 22-Opelka (USA) bt Soon-woo (Kor) 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4; Harris (RSA) bt 25-Khachanov (Rus) 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; 7-Shapovalov (Can) bt Delbonis (Arg) 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Women: 1-Barty (Aus) bt Zvonareva (Rus) 6-1, 7-6(7); Tauson Cirstea (Rom) bt 29-Kudermetova (Rus) 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-0; Sorribes (Esp) bt 22-Muchova (Cze) 6-2, 7-6(3); 11-Bencic (Sui) bt Rus (Ned) 6-4, 6-4; 23-Pegula (USA) bt Potapova (Rus) 6-2, 6-2; 28-Kontaveit (Est) bt Stosur (Aus) 6-3, 6-0; 7-Swiatek (Pol) bt Loeb (USA) 6-3, 6-4; 4-Pliskova (Cze) bt McNally (USA) 6-3, 6-4; 30-Martic (Cro) bt Galfi (Hun) 6-3, 6-2; 24-Badosa (Esp) bt van Uytvanck (Bel) 6-4, 6-3; 14-Pavlyuchenkova (Rus) bt Riske (USA) 6-4, 6-2; 10-Kvitova (Cze) bt Hercog (Slo) 6-1, 6-2; 17-Sakkari (Gre) bt Kostyuk (Ukr) 6-4, 6-3; 6-Andreescu (Can) bt Golubic (Sui) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
Fallen seeds:
Men: 9-Busta, 14-de Minaur, 20-Sonego, 25-Khachanov, 27-Goffin, 28-Fognini.
Women: 22-Muchova, 29-Kudermetova.
