Top seed Novak Djokovic has extended his unbeaten run in 2020 to 24 matches after seeing off Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in straight sets at the US Open.
The world No.1 overcame a bout of frustration midway through his encounter to defeat the world No.109 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 on the Arthur Ashe stadium. In the second set he barked towards his entourage in the stands as the perfectionist player struggled to maintain consistency in his game. Nevertheless, he still managed to clinch a clinical victory in the end with the help of 29 winners as he converted six out of his seven break point opportunities.
“I lost my focus,” Djokovic said during his press conference. “Kind of got stressed out a couple times. Screamed.”
“I was shouting at my box. Not the first time, probably not the last time,’
“I was frustrated with my game, with some of the shots that I was playing at that time (in the second set).’
“I guess it’s not always the reaction that I want. That’s kind of a game and kind of an intensity that I bring on the court. Sometimes these things happen.”
It wasn’t just his own play that frustrated Djokovic during his first round encounter in New York. The 17-time Grand Slam champion was also bemused by how the 25-second shot clock was used between points. Unlike last week’s Western and Southern Open the countdown starts quicker following points, according to umpire Damien Dumusois. A change that Djokovic says he wasn’t told about going into the match as he brands it ‘unacceptable.’
“I was not aware of it. No one really brought it to my attention. The lack of communication is something that worries me once again,” he said.
“That’s something that really upset me. I don’t mind if someone communicates and maybe asks the opinion of us players because we’re the ones who are supposed to play. But it’s going to greatly affect the match.’
“We’ve played at a certain tempo, so to say, got used to it during the Western & Southern tournament, which just ended two days ago. Two days later we have a different rule that was just not communicated to us. That’s something that I found just not acceptable, not fair.”
The shot clock is used to speed up play and enable fairness between players on court. Those who exceed the 25-second time limit can be penalised by the umpire.
Next up for Djokovic will be a meeting with British player Kyle Edmund in the second round who defeated Alexander Bublik in four sets in his opening match. It will be the seventh meeting between the two with Djokovic winning five of their previous encounters. His only loss against Edmund was on clay at the Madrid Open back in 2018.
“He does have a really good serve and forehand, two really big weapons,” the 33-year-old said of his upcoming opponent.
“I had some really good matches against him in the past, Wimbledon,tough four-setter a few years ago. He doesn’t feel so much pressure I think playing on the big court. He actually likes the challenge. I have a lot of respect for him.’
“He’s a really hard worker, puts a lot of hours on and off the court into perfecting his game.”
Djokovic has so far won 288 Grand Slam matches during his career compared to Edmund’s tally of just 17.
