World number one Novak Djokovic began his pursuit of an 18th Grand Slam title with a straight-set win over Damir Dzumhur in the US Open first round.
The Serb, 33, raced through the opening set before being tested in the second on his way to a 6-1 6-4 6-1 win.
Djokovic is seeking to capitalise on the absence of fellow greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in New York.
Among those likely to challenge him are Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also won their openers.
Both of those players are chasing a maiden Grand Slam title, with Spain’s defending champion Nadal not playing because of coronavirus concerns and Swiss 20-time major champion Federer missing following knee surgery.
Djokovic will play Kyle Edmund in the second round after the British number two came from behind to beat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.
Djokovic regains focus to win
After an assured start where Djokovic took the first set in just 24 minutes, the top seed found he was not going to get everything his own way as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Dzumhur began to exert some pressure.
Djokovic was broken in the fourth game of the second set and saved three break points on his next service game but stepped up a gear to regain control against the world number 109.
“Things got complicated. I lost my focus and he started missing less,” Djokovic said.
But the Serb quickly went a break up in the third and then – helped by Dzumhur’s 41 unforced errors and eight double faults – claimed victory on an Arthur Ashe Stadium that was empty because the tournament is being held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Djokovic has won all 24 of his matches in 2020, which has included titles at the Australian Open, Dubai Tennis Championships and last week’s Western & Southern Open.
Zverev & Tsitsipas into second round
Fifth seed Zverev overcame a tough challenge from South African Kevin Anderson to reach the second round with a 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-3 7-5 win.
The 23-year-old German stuttered as he lost the second set, but regained control to beat the 2017 finalist.
“Kevin is not somebody you usually play in the first round,” Zverev said. “I’m extremely happy to get through.”
Zverev broke serve to go 3-2 up against Anderson in the first set but was later broken back by the world number 117, claiming victory in a tie-break.
Anderson broke late in the second set to level things and pushed the German at every opportunity with his dominant serve, but Zverev eventually wrapped up the match in just over three hours.
Greece’s Tsitsipas, the fourth seed, sailed through his opening match, beating Spain’s Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-2 6-1 6-1.
The 22-year-old world number six will face American Maxime Cressy in the second round, while Zverev plays American 19-year-old Brandon Nakashima.
bbc
