Djokovic comes back to reach the US Open round of 32, admitting: I am not yet at my best

Under the sunlight of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Novak Djokovic once again triumphed, albeit not in his most comfortable manner. Early this morning Beijing time, the Serbian tennis legend rallied from behind to defeat American Zachary Svajda 6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 6-1, moving into the US Open men’s singles third round. This win not only extended his record for reaching the last 32 in Grand Slams to a historic 75 times but also tied him with Federer at 191 hard court Grand Slam victories, jointly holding the top spot in men’s tennis history.However, Djokovic’s expression after the match showed little joy, more calmness and reflection. “Honestly, I’m not happy with how I played in the first half of the match,” he admitted candidly.

At the start, Djokovic clearly struggled to find his rhythm. He committed 14 unforced errors in the first set alone, nearly half of the match’s total 25. His serve lacked power, his backhand was off target, and his movement appeared somewhat sluggish. He played unusually hesitant and cautious. Meanwhile, Svajda, a US wildcard who had only won one Grand Slam main draw match before, played more freely, using strong serves and decisive attacks to take the tiebreak.“I needed to find my touch,” Djokovic acknowledged after the match, “It was my first time playing on the center court at this US Open, so adjusting to the rhythm and spatial feel took some time.”

From the second set onward, Djokovic noticeably improved his defensive quality and rally depth. He reduced risky shots and instead used more consistent topspin to drag his opponent into longer exchanges. At the same time, Svajda appeared to suffer a leg cramp, which significantly affected his movement and serving. Despite taking a medical timeout and continuing to fight, he could not maintain the level he showed early on.Djokovic did not overlook his opponent’s fighting spirit: “Credit also goes to Zach; he played at a very high level. It’s unfortunate that he was clearly hampered by injury in the latter stages. But he kept competing, which is admirable.”

Despite the ups and downs, Djokovic set two new historical records with this match:

He reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the 75th time, becoming the player with the most appearances at this stage in men’s Grand Slam history;

His hard court Grand Slam wins reached 191, tying Federer and sharing the all-time lead.Just one more win will give him sole possession of the record for most hard court Grand Slam victories.

This is the second consecutive match where Djokovic admitted he was “not at his best.” Yet he remains untroubled, as he said: “This happens often in my Grand Slam career; the further I go, the more I find my rhythm.”

He also acknowledged the challenges brought by age: “In recent years, my body feels different; recovery is slower and wear and tear faster than before. So I must adapt, doing a lot of recovery work off the court to ensure I can maintain peak performance for long periods on the court.”He plans to carefully manage his physical condition to minimize injury and fatigue risks.

Djokovic will face Britain’s Norrie in the third round, who eliminated Argentina’s Coria in four sets. Djokovic knows he needs to raise his level going forward.“I hope my tennis will improve step by step as the tournament progresses,” he said.

For the 24-time Grand Slam champion, fluctuations in the opening rounds may just be small episodes in a long journey. But Djokovic never underestimates any match; even after setting records, he remains composed and already looks ahead to the next challenge.

Because he knows: the real challenge is only just beginning now.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)