2024 US Open Day 1: Defending Champs Djokovic, Gauff Headline Big Monday

Novak Djokovic opens his big four a fifth US Open title and 25 Grand Slam crown Monday night in New York. The Serb hasn’t hit a ball on tour in nearly a month since his incredible gold medal run at the Paris Olympics. And can anyone blame him?

Now, at age 37 he’ll try to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era and as well set the all-time mark for Grand Slam titles.

“Had some heartbreaking losses at the Olympic Games, worked very hard to try to get myself in a position to fight for gold. And at 37 I thought, you know, I don’t know, could this be the last chance? Maybe. So I had to push more than ever than I have ever done,” Djokovic said.

Turned out to be one of the best performances I had in years overall throughout the entire tournament. Of course in the finals against Carlos, it was kind of a dream scenario really having my wife and children there, the entire nation watching. Just a very proud moment of experiencing the golden medal, you know, around my neck with Serbian anthem and Serbian flag. Very, very special. Probably the most intense emotions I have ever had on a tennis court.”

While Djokovic reaching new heights this summer, Gauff has fallen back to earth after her incredible 2023 summer. She’s won just one match in her last two hard court lead-ups and now she has the pressure of defending her title.

“Obviously coming in as defending champion is a little bit of pressure, but also more of a privilege, because as my new motto is: If you defend, that means you won something before. I’m excited to be back here and hopefully have a good two weeks,” Gauff said Friday.

“So really, the main focus was trying to be as ready as possible for here, which I feel like it was a blessing in disguise I lost so early, because I was able to actually train, which I hadn’t been able to. I do my best results when I come off a training block. I was able to train for a good week and a half and obviously still have a couple more days to do that.

“The last couple of practices have gone really well, which before, like, during Cincinnati wasn’t having great practices, in Toronto wasn’t having great practices.

“Here I’m having great practices, which, you know, doesn’t mean I’m going to go out on the match and play great, but it does give you more confidence when you’re actually practicing great the week before a tournament, yeah.”

Opening Ashe is Ben Shelton who takes on 2020 champion Dominic Thiem. This is Thiem’s final Grand Slam as the Austrian is set to retire in Vienna in October.

American stars Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are also on the docket along with Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Lorenzo Musetti and Casper Ruud.

The women will see former champion Sloane Stephens, Aryna Sabalenka, Madison Keys, Paula Badosa, and gold medalist Qinwen Zheng who meets Amanda Anisimova in the best women’s match of the day.

I don’t think I have too much problem transition clay to hard,” said Zheng. “I just think maybe the time is not enough, and especially I was feeling really sick after when I arrived in Cincinnati. I was, like, maybe four days without practicing and two days with fever.

“So of course if you don’t practice, the performance can’t be well. I mean, if you really put hours on court, I think the transition will be fine. Yeah.”