NOVAK DJOKOVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO LOCKER ROOM AT US OPEN

Written by: Staff on 1st September 2015

NOVAK DJOKOVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO LOCKER ROOM AT US OPEN

epa04906938 Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Joao Souza of Brazil during their match on the first day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 31 August 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Novak Djokovic made an explosive start to his mission to win a third Grand Slam title of 2015 with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win over Brazilian Joao Souza in the first round of the US Open on Monday. And he hopes his fellow title contenders were watching.

“With a dominant win like the one today, it adds to your confidence, your self-belief,” said Djokovic. “But it’s also making a statement for everybody that is out there watching. We are all watching each other’s matches. We are all seeing how each other progresses. It’s important you’re out on the court with the right intensity and you’re sending a good message, and I’ve done so.”

The Serb hit eight aces and did not face a break point in the 73-minute win. Such was the World No. 1’s dominance, that he also won more points than Souza off the Brazilian’s own delivery (33-24). He is looking reassert his dominance after recent final losses to Andy Murray (Montreal) and Roger Federer (Cincinnati). This year, Djokovic is 20-1 at major tournaments, losing only to Stan Wawrinka in the final of Roland Garros.

“I lost three games the entire match against a player I never played against before,” said Djokovic. “It can always be tricky because you’re approaching the match without really knowing how he’s going to react. First time playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The experience of playing in that stadium before many times has helped me to kind of step it up and execute my game plan and be aggressive. I think I’ve done great from the first to last point. Everything worked well. I couldn’t ask for a better opening of this year’s US Open. Hopefully I can continue in that rhythm.”

The 2011 US Open champion has never lost a first-round match in New York (11-0) and is defending a semi-final showing in 2014.

In the next round, Djokovic will face Andreas Haider-Maurer, who outlasted Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-0, 6-1. Pospisil looked to run away with the match after a dominant showing in the third-set tie-break, but began experiencing leg cramps and faded down the stretch.

David Ferrer overcame a slow start to knock out Radu Albot 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-0. The two-time semi-finalist (2007 and 2012) is on the comeback trail and was taking part in his first match since losing to Marcos Baghdatis in the second round of Nottingham in June.

After dropping the first set, Ferrer was broken by Albot while serving at 5-4 in the second set. The 33 year old found his rhythm and controlled play thereafter, breaking the Romanian nine times in the two hour and 46 minute win, his first since Roland Garros.

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/us-open-2015-monday-djokovic )

Topics: 2015 US Open, Atp World Tour, Flushing Meadows, Joao Souza, New York, Novak Djokovic, Sports, Tennis News, US Open tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

September 1, 2015 at 7:33 am

-@DjokerNole SENDS MESSAGE TO LOCKER ROOM AT @usopen- http://t.co/xu8HpffA9L @NovakFanClub #tennis #Djokovic #idemo #USOpen2015 #ATP