US Open
Djokovic loose in the second round – back at the top of the world
Serbian Novak Djokovic celebrates after his victory. photo
© Frank Franklin II/AP/dpa
Last year Novak Djokovic was unable to take part in the US Open due to a lack of corona vaccination. Now the Serb is back – and is celebrating a special success.
Novak Djokovic is one of the den with an easy win after a year out US Open and will retake the top of the world tennis rankings. The 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner showed no weaknesses in the 6:0, 6:2, 6:3 against the Frenchman Alexandre Müller and confidently reached the second round.
Thanks to the success, the Serb will pass Carlos Alcaraz again after the Grand Slam tournament in New York and replace the Spaniard as number one. Last year Djokovic was unable to enter the USA and take part in the hard court tournament due to a lack of corona vaccination. That’s why he doesn’t have to defend any points and will outperform Alcaraz – even if he repeats his title win from last year. It will be Djokovic’s 390th week at the top, extending the record in professional tennis.
“I just got off to an incredible start,” said Djokovic. Due to Laura Siegemund’s long-lasting three-set defeat and a ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the game didn’t start until after 11:00 p.m. local time. “We started very late but I was happy to be back on this pitch,” said Djokovic given his absence last year. He looked into the audience and joked: “Those kids there should be in bed.”