NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic looked tired. He looked hurt. And at times Sunday night, he just looked old.
Djokovic overcame all that and improved to 19-0 in the first round of the U.S. Open, battling through some leg troubles to beat 19-year-old American opponent Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Still, the 38-year-old Serbian star acknowledged concern after laboring through the middle of his first match since Wimbledon.
“I don’t know. I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic had his hands on his knees multiple times in the second set and received treatment for a blister on his right big toe after it. After having his serve broken in the first game of the third set, though, he won the next five games to regain control.