Djokovic voices physical concerns after US Open win

Novak
Djokovic fears his lack of physical conditioning may come back to haunt him as
he chases a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian superstar made a winning start to his latest tilt at
glory on Sunday, defeating US teenager Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in 2hr
25min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
But
Djokovic, who needed a lengthy medical timeout to treat a blister on his right
foot between the second and third sets, admitted afterwards he was worried by a
sudden loss of stamina during the second set.
"I started great -- just
over 20 minutes, first set, I felt really good," Djokovic said.
"Then some long games to start the second set... I really was surprised
how bad I was feeling in the second physically.
"We had long exchanges,
but also, I kind of dropped my level and made a lot of unforced errors and kind
of got him back into the match.
"There are positives but
also things that hopefully won't happen in terms of how I felt on the court
physically in the second set
"It's slightly a concern. I don't know. I don't have any injury or
anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after
points."
- 'Still have the drive' -
Djokovic has not played since
his defeat in the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month, skipping ATP Masters
events in Toronto and Cincinnati to focus all his energy on the US Open.
While there were a few signs
of rustiness at times on Sunday, Djokovic also laced his performance with
flashes of the brilliance that has been his calling card throughout a
glittering career.
Djokovic looked to be a man
in a hurry in a scorching start, rattling off winners to take the first set
6-1.
Tien was given hope in a
laboured second set from Djokovic, but the 19-year-old American could not
convert a break point that would have made it one set all.
Instead, Djokovic held serve
to make it 5-5 in the second set and reasserted himself to claim the second-set
tie break, attacking the net cleverly and using some sublime variation to pull
Tien all over the court.
Djokovic paused for a medical
timeout for treatment to his right foot before the third set got under way.
The rest appeared to give
Djokovic a jolt of energy and he sprinted into a 5-1 lead to leave Tien
reeling.
Tien did well to save a match
point on Djokovic's serve before breaking for 5-2.
But the respite was
short-lived as Djokovic again responded emphatically, breaking back immediately
to wrap up victory.
"I wish I had Learner
Tien's age -- when you come to the late 30s it's about learning how to preserve
the energy for what matters," Djokovic said.
"I still have the flair,
I still have the drive, and you guys give me the energy. Hopefully I can keep
it going," he told the crowd.
Djokovic will face US
qualifier Zachary Svajda in the second round.
















