Late Nights Tougher to Manage with Age

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tueday, August 27, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

NEW YORK—US Open night fights are thrill rides for fans and depleting duels for Novak Djokovic.

Grand Slam king Djokovic launched his US Open title defense defeating Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night.

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Djokovic raised his US Open record to 89-13, equaling Roger Federer for second most US Open men’s singles wins behind all-time leader Jimmy Connors (98-17).

The 37-year-old Serbian superstar said recovering from Arthur Ashe Stadium night matches is more challenging as he’s aged. 

“Well, I don’t think that aging helps really staying so late and playing very late,” Djokovic said. “I can feel, you know, my batteries are low now. I’m shutting down. But it’s been a long wait, to be honest. I thought I’m going to go out on the court, like, 8:15 p.m. because [Sloane] Stephens was 6-Love, 3-Love serving and then all of a sudden it turns out to be a two and a half hour match or whatever.

“Yeah, you just have to accept it, I guess. Those are the instances where you’re scheduled second after 7:00, 7:30 or whatever the start was. I like playing night matches, but I love to start first.”

The Olympic gold-medal champion said he’s eager to play another night session—he prefers opening the evening rather than closing it.

“Hopefully I get more chances to play at night and am scheduled first so we can start at a more decent time and finish at a more decent time,” Djokovic said. “I guess for the fans there is something special about this late-night finishes, particularly post-midnight.

“For us I don’t know. It’s not really what you want, but, you know, if you get a W, then it’s all good.”