“I felt that I was tormenting me”


Article by Maria Olteanu – published Monday, August 25, 2025, 07:54 / Updated Monday, August 25, 2025 07:56
Novak Djokovic (38 years old, 7 ATP) qualified in the 2 of the US Openafter defeating the 19-year-old in the first round, Lerner Tien, score 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2. In the next round, he will play against another American – Zakary Svajda. After the first match, he drew the conclusions at the press conference, talking about the complicated moment, when he asked for a medical time.
“I started excellent, the first set lasted about twenty minutes. Then, in the second set, some long games followed and I was surprised by how weak I was physically afterwards.
I made many unforced mistakes and brought it back to the match. I am glad that I managed to reset after the second set, the third was ok. I hope this is not repeated, the way I felt physically in the second set, because it complicates my things.
Djokovic, satisfied after qualifying in tour 2
It's good that I have two days of break. It is a little concern, I felt that I was struggling, I have no accident, it was hard for me to come back … it was tension on the field, I did not play an official match for six weeks and I had to play at the highest level, which I managed in the first set. The second was a matter of survival, which may not be bad to break the ice, “said Djokovic after the match, quoted by Sportal.blic.rs.
“I did not refer to the beats when I talked about the difficulties on the field. The beat bothered me, but it was not a major problem, I do not worry about it, but rather how hard I was back after points,” said the former world leader.
It was a pretty strange duel, the first set lasted a little over 20 minutes, the second one hour and 20 minutes. Very different sets. The key I think was to master my nerves in the second set, and once I succeeded, I started to feel better and finished the match in a good note. I could have played better, but, in total, it is a good way to start this year's tour.
– Novak Djokovic




