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It’s rare that Novak Djokovic enters any tournament under a cloud, let alone a grand slam, but that is the exact situation at the US Open, as he takes on Jerzy Janowicz in the first round. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9am (AEST).
Djokovic, after winning four grand slams in a row has hit a few roadblocks in the last few months, being bowled out of Wimbledon and the Rio Olympics.
He was looking good at Wimbledon, before being beaten in an error-riddled performance against big-serving American Sam Querrey, and then lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the first round of the Olympics.
The Serbian World no. 1 was visibly emotional after the Olympics lost to Del Potro, and you would have to think he will be able to use some of that emotion here in the USA.
The biggest thing moving forward for Djokovic will be keeping errors down and making the right decisions in his defensively minded game – talent alone will get him through the early rounds but he has to knuckle down and do the little things right or he could be beaten in an upset again.
His opponent, Jerzy Janowicz has had a shocking year that, for the most part has been ruined by injury limiting him to very few games and opportunities to build form or keep his position on the world records.
He can play quite an aggressive style, and it would seem if he is to have a chance of beating Djokovic then that will be the way to do it, getting the Djoker off his game early.
Janowicz didn’t play a game between the Australian Open in January and a challenger event last month before he was knocked out in the first round at Rio.
Since then he participated in another challenger event, this time in Germany on clay winning a couple of matches.
This will be the pair’s first meeting and the winner will go on to play either Jiri Vesely or Saketh Myneni in the second round.
Prediction
Djokovic won’t lose, but you can’t be sure how dominant he will be given his recent play. Errors might bite him as he works into the tournament, but still, he should get it done pretty easily.
Djokovic in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this first round match at the US Open from 9am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde