Fitness worries haunt Djokovic in NY

Novak Djokovic has confessed to fitness worries after moving into the second round of the US Open.

The four-time champion in New York, dismissed teenaged Learner Tien in three sets but confessed to uneasy feelings during the first round victory.

At age 38, Djokovic is into the final chapter of a career which has brought him 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in history.

But the Serb admitted that he may be feeling his age and struggled at some points to go past Tien after sweeping the opening set in 24 minutes.

.”I started great. Just over 20 minutes, first set, I felt really good. Then some long games to start the second set, and then I start to feel really—I don’t know why. 

“I really was surprised how bad I was feeling in the second physically.”

He called the uneasy feeling “a concern.”

Djokovic broke cover revealing his physical shortcomings instead of the usual strategy of saying nothing.

“There are things that hopefully won’t happen in terms of how I feel on the court, the way I felt in the second set. 

“It’s slightly a concern. I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points.”

Djokovic had not touched a racquet under match conditions since Wimbledon, skipping the North American hardcourt tune-up season..

He will hope his situation has improved in the second round when he faces 145th-ranked Zachary Svajda.

Main photo:- Novak Djokovic wins opening match by Mark Greenwood/ISF