“I’m very, very pleased with the way I feel, with the way I’m playing” – Djokovic after first round US Open win
The Serb says night sessions at Arthur Ashe are the most exciting, fun, loud and energetic sessions in the sport
Novak Djokovic at the 2023 US Open – Imago / Panoramic
Playing his first match in two years at the US Open, Novak Djokovic produced two sets of near flawless tennis on Monday night as he romped to a straight sets 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 win over Alexandre Muller. The win took just one hour and 35 minutes and assured the Serb of the world No 1 ranking at the end of the US Open no matter what happens from now until September 10th.
No wonder that Djokovic, who won in Cincinnati heading into New York, said he was very pleased with his performance and overall with the way he has been playing.
“It was a great joy to be stepping out on the court. I think the performance explains how I felt tonight, particularly in the first two sets. It was kind of lights-out tennis really, almost flawless, perfect first set,” Djokovic said. “I’ve probably had the answer for every shot he had in his book. Overall I’m very, very pleased with the way I feel, with the way I’m playing. Hopefully I can maintain that level. It’s just the beginning of the tournament, but I already like the level of tennis.”
..Night sessions at Arthur Ashe definitely are the most exciting, fun, loud, energetic sessions you can have out there on the tennis world.
Novak Djokovic
Playing under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium is not something new for the 23-time Grand Slam winner. But the Serb, who described the night sessions at the US Open as the loudest in all of tennis, said he loved playing under the lights in New York.
“It’s loudest and probably the most humid conditions of all center courts of all four Grand Slams. It is the biggest stadium we have in tennis. This court has seen so much history and so many battles. Everyone knows in tennis that night sessions at Arthur Ashe definitely are the most exciting, fun, loud, energetic sessions you can have out there on the tennis world. It’s the size. It’s the echo because of the roof construction. It’s everything combined. Just people, New Yorkers, love their tennis. They don’t care if they stay up very late, post midnight, because they get excited. I love it. It’s great because every Grand Slam has its own charm in a way. Comparing to, for example, Wimbledon, it’s a complete contrast. In Wimbledon it’s different than here. Here is all about entertainment, fun, good energy, good vibes.”
