Novak Djokovic’s injury concerns overshadow his first-round win at US Open 2025

Novak Djokovic needed a medical timeout during his US Open 2025 first round match against Learner Tein.

Returning to action after a six-week hiatus, Novak Djokovic didn’t expect his US Open 2025 opening match against world No. 50 Learner Tien to be so demanding. The 38-year-old Serbian eventually secured the win, but not without battling physical struggles and a nasty blister on his toe.

In a 2-hour and 25-minute battle at Flushing Meadows, the 24-time Grand Slam champion faced several nervous moments before prevailing in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2.

While the win kept his quest for a record-breaking 25th major alive, the real concern came from his physical discomfort and clumsy footwork, which required medical attention during the match.

The first set was all Djokovic, as he wrapped it up in just over 20 minutes. But things turned tense in the second. The American young sensation Tien who is also known as the “giant-killer” after four previous wins over top-10 players, raised his level, forcing long rallies and punishing Djokovic’s errors.

Also Read: Five records Novak Djokovic can break at US Open 2025

The Serb, meanwhile, was seen clearly struggling to maintain his intensity. “I started great. Just over 20 minutes, first set, I felt really good,” Djokovic admitted in the post match post conference.

Tien must have sensed an opportunity as he attempted to exploit Djokovic’s discomfort by extending rallies and pushing him into long baseline exchanges. Djokovic was forced to rely on improvised drop shots to shorten points and relieve the pressure.

“Then some long games to start the second set… I really was surprised how bad I was feeling physically,” Djokovic admitted. “We had long exchanges, but I also dropped my level, made a lot of unforced errors, and kind of gave him a way back into the match.”

Djokovic produced 20 unforced errors in the second set alone but the Serbian legend sealed it 7-6(3). However, then he needed a medical timeout, the camera caught him removing his shoes, revealing a flapping, bloodied blister on his toe.

Maybe this source of his struggles, but Djokovic doesn’t really care about this injury, it is the long rallies that concerns him. “The blister, okay, it bothered me for a bit, but it wasn’t an issue. I’m not concerned about blister. It’s more just overall feeling of, yeah, just recovery after the points, long rallies wasn’t that great today.”

No matter what, Djokovic who is double the age of Tein won the match without dropping a set. And now, there is a two-day gap between the second round match.

“Good thing, two days off now. But yeah, it’s slightly a concern,” the Serb said. However, the path won’t get any easier. Djokovic will next face another young American, Zachary Svajda, in the second round.

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