"Novak Djokovic delivered a lesson in grand slam tenacity to Learner Tien in the first round of the US Open, battling past the American teenager 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 to launch his latest quest for a record 25th major title. Competing in his first singles match since his run to the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, the 38-year-old Serb swapped the whites for a sleek all-black outfit and managed physical issues to prevail under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights. Djokovic, seeded seventh, shrugged off a time violation to consolidate an early break at the start of the contest and a heated debate with the chair umpire shortly afterwards only spurred him on to wrap up the opening set in double quick time."
"The 19-year-old Tien, on a near-impossible mission to hand Djokovic his first opening-round loss at a grand slam since the 2006 Australian Open, had his chances to draw level during a draining second set but crumbled in the tiebreak. After treatment for a nasty right foot blister, Djokovic produced some heavy groundstrokes from the baseline to break for a 3-1 lead in the third set and the four-times New York champion never looked back from there."
Novak Djokovic overcame physical discomfort and on-court tension to beat 19-year-old Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 in the US Open first round. The 38-year-old, playing his first singles match since Wimbledon, changed into an all-black outfit and managed a time violation and a heated exchange with the chair umpire before finishing the opening set quickly. Tien challenged Djokovic in a draining second set but lost the tiebreak. Following treatment for a right foot blister, Djokovic hit heavy baseline groundstrokes, broke early in the third set and closed out the win as he pursues a 25th major.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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