Novak Djokovic shines in the spotlight with a victorious start to defending his title at the US Open | Tennis News

Djokovic, who is seeking his 25th Grand Slam title and his first since winning at Flushing Meadows last year, was not at his best.

However, he was more than a match for 138th-seeded Albot and managed six breaks against the Moldovan on his way to a 6-2, 6-2 and 6-4 victory.

He scored a new men’s record 78th match win at Arthur Ashe Stadium and said the “electric” energy of the evening session was unlike any other.

“The night sessions here are the best in the world,” said Djokovic, capping the action on a day that drew a record 74,641 spectators, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.

This included 42,886 visitors to the day session and 31,775 visitors to the night session, a new record.

“There is an incredible energy and with the new rule this year that the crowd can move, a lot is happening,” said the four-time champion.

Djokovic is seeded second behind Jannik Sinner and is hoping to become the first man since Roger Federer to win consecutive US Opens from 2004 to 2008 and repeat his title in New York.

Although he just celebrated an emotional triumph at the Olympic Games in Paris, Djokovic has not yet won a Grand Slam title this year.

He made 10 double faults along with 40 unforced errors, but remained in full control throughout the two-hour, seven-minute match that ended shortly before midnight.

American Ben Shelton opened the Ashe tournament with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over 2020 champion Dominic Thiem.

Shelton’s triumph marked the end of Thiem’s ​​Grand Slam career after the Austrian announced his retirement at the end of 2024 following several injury-plagued seasons.

“I just want to thank you for all the support,” Thiem told the fans. “It’s been 10 years since I first played here. I had my greatest success on this court.”

Fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev needed four sets to defeat lucky loser Maximilian Marterer 6:2, 6:7 (5/7), 6:3, 6:2.

Sixth seed Andrey Rublev defeated Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, and eighth seed Norwegian Casper Ruud advanced with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 win over Chinese Bu Yunchaokete.

Ruud will next face French veteran Gael Monfils, who defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the Argentine’s last Grand Slam appearance before his retirement.

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka easily advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon.

Eighth-seeded Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova easily advanced to the second round with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera.

Seventh-seeded Olympic women’s singles champion Zheng Qinwen of China came back from a set behind to defeat Amanda Anisimova 4:6, 6:4, 6:2.