Novak Djokovic was out of sorts for a second consecutive match at the U.S. Open, but once again it didn’t matter.
After managing to scrape past Learner Tien in straight sets to begin his bid for a 25th major title, Djokovic dropped a set this time around. Nonetheless, the 38-year-old recovered from a slow start to beat Zachary Svajda 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in the second round.
“I’m not pleased with my level of tennis,” Djokovic admitted, “but you have days like this where you’re not playing at your best–but you just kind of find a way.
“It’s not a motivation thing. It’s just like me a bit frustrated with my game, and then I kind of go through stuff internally that…you don’t want to know the details what I’m going through and telling myself. I’m just trying to be locked in; just trying to solve the riddle once I’m on the court. It’s not like I’m not finding joy on the court competing. I enjoy competing, but I don’t enjoy not playing well. That’s why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to be better the next day (and) the next match.
“So, yeah, today was a little bit of a struggle to find that rhythm.”
Next up for Djokovic is Cameron Norrie on Friday.
They have a history, and it isn’t good for Norrie. The British veteran trails the head-to-head series 6-0 after getting clobbered 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in round four of this year’s French Open. Surprisingly, they have never faced each other on an outdoor hard court.
Despite the lopsidedness of the matchup, it is a notable one at the same time. Djokovic and Norrie played a spicy encounter at the 2023 Rome Masters in which the left-hander hit Djokovic with an overhead from close range. The former world No. 1 also took umbrage with some other perceived antics by his opponent.
“It was maybe about [the overhead],” Djokovic said of their cold handshake. “But it was maybe a combination of things. From the very beginning he was doing all the things that were allowed. He’s allowed to take a medical timeout. He’s allowed to hit a player. He’s allowed to say ‘come on’ in [my] face more or less every single point from basically the first game.
“Those are the things that we players know in the locker room it’s not fair play; it’s not how we treat each other. But, again, it’s allowed.”
Even though they have squared off three times since then, this one could be fun. And, given Djokovic’s current form, it could also be competitive.
winnable for Norrie
Thats how bad things are for Djoko
Nah Novak won’t lose to Norrie