Djokovic: It was no stroll
Novak Djokovic enjoyed a stroll into the second round of the US Open at the expense of Ivan Ljubicic at Arthur Ashe Stadium but insisted it was not as easy as it looked.
The world number four was never in trouble on the way to a 6-3 6-1 6-3 victory over the 30-year-old Croatian in one hour 37 minutes.
“I would love every match to be a walk in the park,” Djokovic said, before adding: “It’s not easy.
“Maybe it seems that results-wise and game-wise but if you play a big server who been the third player in the world, won a Davis Cup, had a lot of titles under his belt and so much experience, you’ve got to be cautious.”
Number seven seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga needed just 78 minutes to dispose of US wild card Chase Buchanan, the Frenchman emerging a 6-0 6-2 6-1 winner.
Tenth seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain defeated Benjamin Becker of Germany 7-5 6-4 7-5, while number 11 Fernando Gonzalez won the all-Chilean contest with Nicolas Massu 6-3 6-3 6-3.
