An ailing Novak Djokovic overcame in injury to his left foot to defeat Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open on Wednesday.

Djokovic reached the final in New York last year where he lost to four-time reigning champion Roger Federer and has won three titles this year including his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The 21-year-old Serbian is also fresh off winning the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.

"I played good tennis today, enough to win," Djokovic said Wednesday. "Hopefully I can play even better in the next round."

Djokovic, of Serbia, moves through to the second round where he will face the winner of a match between American Robert Kendrick and France's Nicolas Mahut.

In the third set against Clement, Djokovic twisted his left ankle while lunging for a shot.

At the time he was two sets ahead and leading 2-1 in the third. After a 10 minute time out to get the ankle taped, the match resumed with Clement winning the next point to level the final set at 2-2.

But Djokovic cruised from there winning four of the next five games clinching the win in straight sets when Clement's final shot sailed long.

AFP