At the US Open, Novak Djokovic’s quest for a 24th Grand Slam victory got off to a smooth start as he defeated Alexandre Muller in only 96 minutes.
The Serb won his first eight matches in a row to claim the triumph with a score of 6-0 6-2 6-3. Djokovic will next play unseeded Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles. Djokovic claimed he “had the answer for every shot he had in his book.”
Novak Djokovic defeated Alexandre Muller in the first round of the US Open thanks to a “lights-out” performance.
The world No. 2 got off to a fast start in New York, defeating his French opponent in just 96 minutes with scores of 6-0, 6-2, and 6-3.
Djokovic, who earlier this year won the Australian and French Open championships, had his hopes of completing the Calendar Slam crushed when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. However, he didn’t seem to be thinking about that defeat as he faced Muller.
The outcome guarantees that Djokovic will replace Alcaraz as the world’s top dog following the competition.
Djokovic got off to a good start in the opening round with an early break. The Serb then added two more breaks and two straightforward holdings before serving out the set in under 25 minutes.
Djokovic got off to a good start in the opening round with an early break. The Serb then added two more breaks and two straightforward holdings before serving out the set in under 25 minutes.
At the start of the second set, an unflappable Djokovic broke once more on his third break point of the match, followed by another easy hold as Muller feared being overpowered by his legendary rival.
The Arthur Ashe crowd rose to their feet in support of the world no. 76 as he finally connected with the opponent with a love hold.
This turned out to be only a temporary reprieve, as Muller was broken again for 1-4 before breaking back and winning the point after a spectacular ‘tweener’ to add to his own highlight reel. This may have given the three-time winner in New York plenty to think about.
However, Djokovic immediately broke even before finishing the set by serving.
Muller had three straight love holds as the third set was played on serve till 3-3, showing signs that he had re-entered the game.
The writing was then on the wall as Djokovic cranked it up, breaking in the very next game before a final, decisive break to secure the championship.
Following the Spaniard’s 6-4 6-4 6-3 victory over Ethan Quinn, the Serb, who is chasing for a record-tying 24th grand slam singles trophy, will play unseeded Bernabe Zapata Miralles in round two.
In other matches, Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and Casper Ruud defeated Emilio Nava 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).
Taylor Fritz defeated Steve Johnson 6-2 6-1 6-2, and Frances Tiafoe advanced to round two after defeating Learner Tien 6-2 7-5 6-1.
However, there was some surprise as Mackenzie McDonald defeated 15th seed Felix Auger Aliassime. 7-5(5) 4-6 6-1 6-4.
