While midnight matches delight followers, seasoned champion Novak Djokovic is not as happy. On Monday, the veteran expressed his frustration with the late-night begin to his U.S. Open title protection.
Despite displaying some rust, Djokovic decisively defeated qualifier Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the second spherical.
However, the two-hour, seven-minute showdown prolonged into the early hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium, concluding round midnight.
The pair had been unable to take to the courtroom till late resulting from Clara Burel’s comeback win over Sloane Stephens, who crumbled in three units after main 6-0, 3-0.
“Well, I don’t think that aging helps really staying so late and playing very late,” 37-year-old Djokovic informed reporters.
“I can really feel, , my batteries are low now. I’m shutting down.
“But it has been an extended wait, to be trustworthy. I believed I used to be going to exit on the courtroom at like 8:15 p.m. as a result of Stephens was up 6-0, 3-0 and serving, after which impulsively it seems to be a two-and-a-half-hour match or no matter.
“You simply have to simply accept it, I suppose. I like enjoying evening matches, however I like to start out first.
“So hopefully I get extra possibilities to play at evening and am scheduled first so we are able to begin at a extra respectable time and end at a extra respectable time.
“I guess for the fans, there is something special about late-night finishes, particularly post-midnight. For us, I don’t know. It’s not really what you want, but if you get a W (win), then it’s all good.”
Djokovic returned to the courtroom for the primary time since profitable a long-coveted Olympic gold medal in singles in Paris.
Though he simply accounted for Moldovan journeyman Albot, Djokovic’s lack of warmup matches confirmed as he served up 10 double faults and racked up almost twice as many unforced errors as winners.
“It’s always challenging to start, particularly when you haven’t played on this surface for five, six months and are coming off an Olympic gold and playing on clay,” he mentioned.
“I’m anticipating to be most likely challenged a little bit bit extra within the opening rounds.
“The good thing about Slams is you have a day between matches where you can train, where you can really work on things and perfect your game. That’s what I need.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com