NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic seems a little sluggish, a little sluggish in his second straight game at the U.S. Open. This time, he even gave up on the opening ceremony. Then, as always, on the grass in Flushing, the 24-time Grand Slam champion entered the third round.
Djokovic improved to 36-0 in the first and second rounds of New York, winning four titles and returning to the 145th-ranked U.S. qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, on Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I really tried to absorb it and enjoy the moment, especially when I won the first set,” said Swajada, 22, of San Diego. “It was a little shocking. I was like, ‘Wow!'”
Since then, he was asked in court about his first match and was hampered by a groin injury since losing to ultimate champion Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon’s semifinal on July 11, Djokovic replied: “Honestly, not that good.”
“He missed a little bit,” Swajada said, with his legs and arms cramping at the beginning of the game. “He’s a little frustrated.”
Later at his press conference, the 38-year-old Djokovic talked about his mood.
“It’s not a motivation. It’s like I’m a little frustrated with my game and then I’m going through something internally – you don’t want to know what I’m going through and tell yourself the details.” He explained after his 75th trip to the Grand Slam, breaking the most of Roger Federer like this with Roger Federer.
“I just want to be locked up. As long as I’m on the court, I’m trying to solve this riddle.” “It’s not that I’m not finding joy on the court. I love the game, but I don’t like playing badly. That’s why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to get better on the next day, the next game.”
This will compete with British left-hander Cam Norrie, who reached the semifinals in 2022 at Wimbledon or Argentina’s Francisco Casemana.
No matter which man it is, he will face the mission of Svajda against Djokovic on Wednesday.
“He did a great job, and it was incredible,” Swajada said. “I’ve been talking to my team and coach before, trying to figure it out. It’s Novak Djokovic, so there’s no big weakness.”
What else happened to the U.S. Open on Wednesday?
No. 5 seed Jack Draper, a 2024 semi-finalist, quit the game due to lingering damage from his left arm. Winners include last year’s runner-up – Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, as well as 10th seed Emma Navarro and 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. No. 12 Casper Ruud, who ranked 0-3 in the Grand Slam final, included a 2022 loss to Carlos Alcaraz on Flushing Meadows, was eliminated by Belgium’s Raphael Collignon for 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. No. 107 Collignon has never won a Grand Slam, nor has he played five games before this match. Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka plan to hold a second round in Ashe at night.
Who plans to play football on Flushing Meadow on Thursday?
The same goes for past U.S. Open Champions Sinners, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in Ashe, No. 14 seed Tommy Paul.
