Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has reclaimed the coveted men’s world number-one ranking after a convincing win during his return to the US Open.
The 36-year-old tennis star, who lost to young rival Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, secured a commanding 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 triumph against France’s Alexandre Muller in New York on Monday night.
Djokovic’s absence from the United States last year due to his unvaccinated status against COVID-19 prevented him from participating. Returning with a clear goal in mind, Djokovic aims to tie the record for most major titles, a feat achieved by Australian legend Margaret Court. The victory over Muller marked a strong start to his campaign, as he seeks his 24th major title.
With a remarkable career that includes three previous US Open championships, Djokovic was determined to assert his dominance from the outset. Despite the late starting time of 23:00 local time, he wasted no time and dropped just eight points in a swift 23-minute opening set.
Reflecting on his triumphant performance, Djokovic stated, “I started tremendously well… it has been a couple of years,” acknowledging the enthusiasm to return to the court. While facing a bit more resistance from Muller in the second and third sets, Djokovic continued to display his skill and mastery of the game.
Muller’s efforts to challenge Djokovic were evident, but the Serbian champion remained undeterred. Djokovic sealed his victory in an hour and 34 minutes, winning the final four games of the match.
Djokovic, who earlier secured victories at the Australian Open and French Open this year, eyes his fourth Flushing Meadows title. His next opponent will be Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the second round, and he will hold the world number one ranking following the tournament.
In a parallel storyline, reigning US Open champion and rising star Carlos Alcaraz will defend his title against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer on Tuesday.
Alcaraz, who emerged victorious at the US Open during Djokovic’s absence last year, has ignited a compelling rivalry with Djokovic over the past 12 months. Although they cannot meet until the final due to their top seeding, their anticipated face-off adds an extra layer of excitement to the tournament.
The Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry has intensified after captivating battles in the French Open semi-finals, the Wimbledon final, and the recent Cincinnati final.
As Djokovic regains his world number-one status and Alcaraz aims to defend his title, fans eagerly anticipate their potential showdown in the US Open final.
