Four-time champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the US Open third round on Wednesday evening when his countryman Laslo Djere retired early in the third set.
The second seed led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 before the retirement under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match lasted two hours and 16 minutes.
Novak broke Djere to love in the 10th game of a tightly fought first set, benefiting from a series of unforced errors by his rival.
Djokovic had to work hard to hold serve in the opening game of the second set, fending off two break points. Djere looked to have the momentum as he broke in the third game and then held to consolidate the break. Novak managed to break back in the eighth game and converted another chance in the 10th for two sets to love lead.
Djere tried to fight on, but was forced to retire just seven minutes into the third set.
“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover,” Djokovic said. “But he obviously had an injury that took him out of the Tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically to this level. He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should’ve been his second set, honestly. It was 4-2, 15/40. Overall, it was a big fight. Over two hours for two sets. I served awful. So playing without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run. So I guess I had to rely on my baseline game.”
Match statistics: aces (3-11), double faults (8-1), winners (18-30), unforced errors (26-40), total points won (90-72).
Up next for the Serbian star is Alexei Popyrin, whom he beat twice this year, at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon. Novak won both matches in four sets. The 28th seed from Australia defeated Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.
Nole is chasing a 25th major crown. Should he claim his fifth US Open title, Djokovic would break a tie with Australia’s Margaret Court for most Slam singles titles, male or female.
Photo: Profimedia
