The US Open
USO midnight hour no longer prime time for Djoko
US Open night creature Novak Djokovic said he fears age may be catching up to him with the Serb suddenly dissatisfied with traditional late-night finishes in New York.
The 37-year-old who opened night play on opening day with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Moldovan Radu Albot, is set for another after-dark showdown against fellow Serb Laslo Djere.
Djokovis’ opening match ended at a relatively “early” tie just after midnight at Flushing Meadows.
But the event is notorious for starting matches late and letting beer-soaked fans have their noisy fun all through the wee hours.
Djokovic, for one, may have had enough of the frivolity.
“I don’t think that ageing helps really staying so late and playing very late,I can feel my batteries are low now,” he said post-match.
“I’m shutting down.”But it’s been a long wait, (to start due to a long-running women’s match) to be honest.
“I like playing night matches, but I love to start first. So 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.”