US Open: Novak Djokovic starts his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a straight-set win

NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic began his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title and tied Roger Federer with his 89th match win at the U.S. Open by defeating qualifier Radu Albot of Moldova 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 on Monday night.

The second-seeded Djokovic, again wearing a gray sleeve over his surgically repaired right knee, was competing for the first time since claiming an Olympic gold medal three weeks ago at the Paris Games, the last significant achievement that was missing from his resume.

“It’s always challenging to start, particularly when you haven’t played on this surface for five, six months, and coming off an Olympic gold and playing on clay. I haven’t had any official matches before the U.S. Open. So I’m expecting to be probably challenged a little bit more in the opening rounds,” he said. “Hopefully, I can play better each day.”

He said his knee, which was operated on in early June, feels fine.

Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, improved to 18-0 in first-round matches at Flushing Meadows and is now 89-13 overall at the hard-court tournament, which he's won four times, including a year ago. He's never lost earlier than the third round at the U.S. Open; Albot never has been past the third round in 30 appearances at majors.

The retired Federer went 89-14 in New York, with five consecutive championships from 2004 to 2008. He's the most recent man to win the U.S. Open at least twice in a row. Among men, only Jimmy Connors, who went 98-17, won more matches than Djokovic and Federer at the event.

Djokovic never has lost a Grand Slam match to someone ranked as low as No. 138 Albot. And Albot is now 0-12 against opponents ranked in the top 10.

Next up for Djokovic is a countryman, familiar opponent and friend, Laslo Djere, who advanced with a 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff. A year ago, Djokovic met Djere in the third round at the U.S. Open; Djere took the first two sets before Djokovic came through in five.

“It’s a guaranteed third round for one of the Serbian guys. Hopefully it’s going to be me. But Djere is a guy that really likes playing on a big stage. I think he also loves the conditions here. It’s a bit quicker. Ball stays low. He has a very flat backhand particularly and very good serve, great return. He’s physically as fit as anybody,” Djokovic said. “I remember very well our match. It was a very tough match. I’m going to try to analyze that and hopefully do some things even better than I did last year.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot to Radu Albot, of Moldova, during a first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, greets Radu Albot, of Moldova, after winning their first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts after defeating Radu Albot, of Moldova, during a first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Radu Albot, of Moldova, returns a shot to Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during a first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot to Radu Albot, of Moldova, during a first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot to Radu Albot, of Moldova, during a first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in Mexico's resort-studded Los Cabos area warned tourists and residents alike to stay inside Friday as Tropical Storm Ileana began to pound the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula with rain.

Ileana formed Thursday off the Pacific coast of Mexico and was lumbering north-northwest at 9 mph (15 kmh), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The forecast path would take it over or near the twin resorts of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

Ileana was centered about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of Cabo San Lucas, the center said in a Friday morning advisory. Maximum sustained winds were at 45 mph (75 kph), and Ileana was expected to reach the coast during the next several hours.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for portions of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Forecasters predicted 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain would fall with Ileana, and up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) was possible for coastal areas of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states through Friday.

Ileana is expected to move across the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula Friday and over the southern and central Gulf of California this weekend.

Los Cabos Civil Protection issued a red alert for Los Cabos and La Paz on Friday morning. “Stay totally indoors, do not go outside until authorities advise, and be aware of alerts issued by authorities,” they shared on Facebook.

They also urged residents to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and low areas where they can be swept away by water.

All schools in Los Cabos were also suspended Friday due to the storm.

Óscar Cruces Rodríguez of Mexico’s federal Civil Protection said in a statement that residents should avoid leaving their homes until the storm passes and if residents are in an area at risk of flooding to find temporary shelters.

Authorities prepared 20 temporary shelters in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, according to Los Cabos Civil Protection.

At the Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet worker Alan Galvan said the rain arrived late Thursday night and has been constant. “The rain isn't very strong right now, but the waves are choppy," he said.

“The guests are very calm and already came down for coffee,” Galvan said. “There's some flights canceled but everything is ok at the moment.” Galvan said they are awaiting further advisories from authorities.

Felipe Gomez, a worker at the Vibrant Cabo San Lucas Marina Restaurant was the first to arrive at work, but was awaiting orders from management on whether they would close.

“Honestly it’s pretty ugly right now, the whole main boulevard is flooded and all the businesses are closed,” he said.

“I’m waiting for them to confirm and then I’ll go home," he said. "I hope it gets better and conditions don’t worsen.”

This satellite image taken at 12:40 pm ET on Sept. 13, 2024, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shows Tropical Storm Ileana at Mexico's southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. (NOAA via AP)