Defending champion Novak Djokovic is safely through to the second round of the 2024 US Open after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over qualifier Radu Albot of Moldova.
The win is the Serb’s 78th on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the most of any male player in the history of the tournament. And Djokovic, seeded second, will surely have more opportunities to add to his tally as the event progress.
The 24-Grand Slam winner dedicated his triumph to younger brothers Marko and Djordjeboth of whom are former tennis players who were beaten by Albot in the past.
Who are Marko and Djordje Djokovic, Novak’s brothers?
33-year-old Marko turned professional in 2007 but only ever played four matches on the ATP Tourall of which he lost, before retiring from the sport in 2019. That year, he had a career-high world ranking of 574.
George29, failed to make any ATP Tour appearances during his short career, the highlight of which was reaching the men’s doubles quarterfinals at the China Open in 2015. Until 2022, he acted as the tournament director of the now defunct Serbian Openwhich was run by the Djokovic family and played at the Novak Tennis Center in Belgrade.
How many wins is Djokovic away from all-time US Open record?
Novak Djokovic’s victory over Albot takes him level with Roger Federer on 89 at the US Openputting him joint second on the all-time list. Only Jimmy Connors (98) has recorded more.
If the 37-year-old goes on to win his fifth US Openhe will get to 95 victorieswhich means he will have to come back next year if he is to break the all-time record.
Djokovic will take on fellow Serbian Laslo Djere in the second round at Flushing Meadows. The 29-year-old, currently ranked 100th in the world, defeated Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in five sets in the opening round.
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