(New York) A quick small victory in the first round on Monday and Novak Djokovic, deprived of United States Open last year for lack of anti-COVID-19 vaccination, has already ensured to become world No. outcome of the tournament.

The 36-year-old Serbian did not participate in the 2022 edition won by Carlos Alcaraz, so he only needed to advance to the second round this year to climb to the top of the hierarchy in front of the Spaniard.

It’s done with a 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 victory in 1:35 over Frenchman Alexandre Müller (84th). The punishment even looked set to be far more severe as “the Djoker” won the first eight games in a mere half hour (to lead 6-0, 2-0) and Müller didn’t seem quite able to stop the hemorrhage.

“I started the match terribly well from the first exchanges,” said the Serb.

“I knew I might play late, but I was still looking forward to getting on the court, because I hadn’t played here for two years,” on the huge Arthur-Ashe court, a- he recalled after the match which ended after half past midnight.

Titled three times at Flushing Meadows where he is also in search of a 24th Grand Slam title to equal the absolute record of Margaret Court, Djokovic will face in the next round the Spaniard Bernabe Zapata (76th).