Novak Djokovic vs. Joao Souza takes place today in the first round of the 2015 US Open.
This US Open match is scheduled to start at 19:30 BST.
Preview: Djokovic enters the final Grand Slam of the year off the back of two consecutive finals losses to Andy Murray and Roger Federer. Murray snapped an eight-match losing streak against the World No. 1 to triumph at the Rogers Cup, while Federer ended Djokovic’s hopes of a career Golden Masters in the Cincinnati final. But on the eve of the US Open, the top seed told reporters his recent losses have not dented his confidence. “Of course, I did want to win both in Canada and Cincinnati, but it didn’t happen,” Djokovic said. “But they deserved to win because they were better players on the court. It only changes in terms of me understanding what I did wrong, what has happened in those matches, analysing it, talking with my team, with my coach especially. Trying to develop the right approach to prepare myself and to get better.” Djokovic can avoid a rematch against Federer or Murray until potentially in the final. Instead eighth ranked Rafael Nadal was drawn into the same quarter of the draw as Djokovic, which also includes tenth ranked Milos Raonic and 18th seed Feliciano Lopez. Djokovic has reached the final in five out of the past six major events and he has won three of those: Wimbledon (2014, 2015) and the Australian Open (2015). He has reached the US Open final on five occasions, but he has only ever been able to triumph once (2011). Last year Kei Nishikori stunned him in four sets in the semi-finals. This season Djokovic opens his campaign against 89th ranked Joao Souza and he isn’t expected to have too much trouble against the 27-year-old, who has never won a main draw match at Flushing Meadows. Despite his recent losses, Djokovic also enters the Grand Slam off the back of a successful year which has seen him only lose five matches. He has also enjoyed a solid hard-court warm-up, following his Wimbledon victory. “I played a lot of matches coming into New York. I think 14 in total, doubles and singles in two weeks, which is quite a lot,” Djokovic said. “I feel like I’m well prepared for New York. So that competitive mode is going to help me ease my way into the tournament better. Confidence is still there…This is where of course I was setting up my form to be at its peak. Hopefully that can happen.”
