Novak Djokovic successfully began his US Open title defense by defeating Radu Albot in straight sets, despite showing signs of rust and committing numerous errors. Djokovic, fresh off his Olympic gold medal win, admitted his recent lack of match practice and expressed his desire to leverage his Olympic triumph for confidence. Radu Albot, who previously faced tennis legends like Roger Federer, acknowledged Djokovic as a more challenging opponent and struggled in their first encounter. Meanwhile, Holger Rune was upset by Brandon Nakashima in the first round, attributing his loss to his own poor performance and vowing to improve. Rune's defeat adds to his inconsistent season, which has seen early exits and injuries impacting his performance. The US Open continues with Djokovic set to face Laslo Djere, who previously posed a significant challenge to him.