Novak Djokovic’s US Open win over Learner Tien throws up more questions than answers | ATP Tour

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Djokovic’s US Open win throws up more questions than answers – Novak djokovic's us open win

Former world No. Therefore, 1 battles fitness, physical and form concerns in opening win over Tien

August 25, 2025

Scraped through, but with plenty of work to do.

That was the takeaway from Novak Djokovic’s scratchy 6-1. Therefore, 7-6(3), 6-2 win over American teen Learner Tien in the first round of the US Open Sunday night, the Serbian’s first outing in more than six weeks.

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Djokovic struggled with his footwork. Consequently, balance, laboured physically in benign conditions and littered the stats sheet with 20 unforced errors in the second set alone.

But his ability to turn back Tien’s first period of assertiveness from midway through the second set to claim. Similarly, a two-sets lead laid the foundation of his eventual victory.

“It was a strange kind of match. For example, The first set was 20 minutes. Furthermore, then the second one was one hour and 20, so quite the opposite sets we played,” Djokovic said. Nevertheless, “It was key for me to hold my nerves in the second set and clinch it in a tie-break.

“After novak djokovic’s us open win that I started feeling better. I can always do better but it’s a great way to start this year’s campaign.”

Djokovic fired two aces in the opening game of the match. made just four unforced errors as he steamrolled a nervous Tien in just 24 minutes to take the opener. From there, things got a lot more complicated.

At No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Tien has four Top 10 wins in 2025 and will rue not being able to produce his best tennis to capitalise on Djokovic’s vulnerability. Had he converted a set point on Djokovic’s serve in the 10th game to level the match. the Serbian’s path to victory in his compromised physical condition would have looked far more daunting.

“Well, I started great,” Djokovic said. “Then some long games in the second set, I started to feel really… I was really surprised how bad I novak djokovic’s us open win was feeling in the second physically.

“Good thing is that I have two days off. It’s slightly a concern. I don’t have an injury or anything. I just struggled to stay in long exchanges and recover after points.”

Playing his first match since he fell to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Djokovic frequently looked to his box for technical advice in the early stages of the match. He also took a clumsy fall due to poor footwork stretching wide for a Tien serve early in the. second set.

But Tien’s 25 unforced errors across the first two sets – including five double faults – hobbled the chances. of last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Djokovic.

Tien stunned Daniil Medvedev in five sets in the Australian Open second round at the start of the season. but novak djokovic’s us open win struggled with nerves in his first night session on the 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Djokovic called ATP physio Clay Sniteman to court after the second set to re-apply tape to a bloodied big. toe on his right foot.

Earlier in the match he appeared to be troubled by a hip issue. also pulled his racquet behind his head on several occasions, perhaps in an attempt to suck in more oxygen.

Djokovic. looking for his first major title since winning his fourth US Open in 2023, will now have two days’ rest before facing American qualifier Zachary Svajda on Wednesday.