Opening win pains Djokovic
NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic double-faulted, then shook his right arm and grimaced.
Seconds later Monday night, a weak serve produced a wince, then was followed by a missed forehand that gave away a set in the defending champion’s first-round match at the U.S. Open.
While he managed to emerge with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, there were plenty of signs of trouble, starting with a visit from a trainer who massaged Djokovic’s bothersome arm after only five games.
Asked about his health during an on-court interview, Djokovic deflected the question, saying, “I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about this now. I’m through. I’m taking it day by day.”
This was the No. 1-ranked Djokovic’s first match at a major tournament since losing to Sam Querrey in the third round of Wimbledon, which ended the Serb’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam after titles at the Australian Open and French Open.
Heading into the U.S. Open, Djokovic spoke about dealing with a left wrist injury that flared up in the days before the Rio Olympics this month. But that appeared to be just fine against Janowicz, a former top-20 player who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2013 and is now ranked 247th after his own series of injury issues.
Earlier in Arthur Ashe Stadium, another twotime U.S. Open champion, Rafael Nadal, won his first Grand Slam match in three months 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Denis Istomin. Nadal had missed Wimbledon with a wrist injury.
In other matches of note on the first day, 20th-seeded John Isner came from two sets down to beat 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe, 26th-seeded Jack Sock needed five sets to defeat 18-year-old Taylor Fritz in another all-American matchup, and Olympics gold medalist Monica Puig lost to China’s Zheng Saisai.