 "Novak Djokovic's straightforward victory was also a record 78th on the sport's biggest court. Reuters")
Novak Djokovic began his campaign to win a record 25th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win over Radu Albot at the US Open on Monday as Coco Gauff also powered into the second round.
The four-time champion, Djokovic, playing for the first time since claiming Olympic gold two weeks ago, defeated the Moldovan qualifier 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Djokovic arrived on Arthur Ashe Stadium for his 40th career night match at the tournament with two gold bags slung over his shoulder in a nod to his recent Olympic success in Paris.
The 37-year-old, who has lost his Australian and French Open titles this year, was barely troubled by 138th-ranked Albot who has never defeated a top 10 player.
His straightforward victory was also a record 78th on the sport’s biggest court.
“The night sessions here are the best in the world and since the roof was added, it’s got even louder,” said Djokovic.
“There’s an incredible energy and with the new rule this year that the crowd can move around, there are lot of things happening.”
Four-time champion Djokovic, seeded second behind world number one Jannik Sinner, is vying to become the first man to repeat in New York since Roger Federer won five straight US Opens from 2004-2008.
Gauff began her title defence with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Varvara Gracheva. The third seed fired 10 aces and needed just 66 minutes to beat 66th-ranked Gracheva. She saved eight break points – including two with aces in the final game.
“It is definitely a lot of pressure this tournament but I’m just enjoying it,” said Gauff, who is seeded third behind world number one Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
“Last year was incredible, so I’m just bringing those vibes and whatever happens, happens.”
Gauff has battled through an erratic season since capturing her maiden major last year and her tune-up tournaments saw her fall in the third round at Toronto before she crashed out of her first match as the defending champion in Cincinnati.
“The last few weeks have been a little bit tough,” Gauff said. “But today was I think the best tennis I’ve played in a while.”
American Ben Shelton got the ball rolling on Ashe with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over 2020 champion Dominic Thiem.
Shelton’s triumph marked an end to Thiem’s Grand Slam career, the Austrian having announced he would retire at the end of 2024 after several injury-plagued seasons.
“I just want to say thanks for all the support,” Thiem told fans. “It’s been 10 years since I first played here, I had my greatest success on this court.”
Krejcikova advances
Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany needed four sets to get past lucky loser Maximilian Marter 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2.
Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev beat Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 and eighth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway advanced with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 win over China’s Bu Yunchaokete.
Ruud next faces French veteran Gael Monfils, who beat Diego Schwartzman 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the Argentinian’s final Grand Slam appearance as he heads into retirement.
Wimbledon women’s champion Barbora Krejcikova, seeded eighth, eased into the second round with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory over Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera.
Olympic women’s singles gold medallist Zheng Qinwen of China, seeded seventh, rallied from a set down to beat Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“Every ball (from Anisimova) went inside in the beginning and I couldn’t do anything,” said Zheng.
“Little by little I started to get into the rhythm,” added Zheng, who finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open, and could face the second seed from Belarus in the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka closed out the night session on Louis Armstrong Stadium against Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon with a 6-3, 6-3 win.
With agency inputs