{"id":124856,"date":"2019-08-31T05:31:27","date_gmt":"2019-08-31T03:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/novakdjokovic.com\/?p=124856"},"modified":"2019-08-31T22:17:28","modified_gmt":"2019-08-31T20:17:28","slug":"us-open-novak-sets-up-wawrinka-last-16-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novakdjokovic.com\/en\/news\/tennis\/us-open-novak-sets-up-wawrinka-last-16-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"US Open: Novak sets up Wawrinka last 16 clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

There was no slow start for Nole on Friday evening, as the Serbian star surged into the last 16 at the US Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Top seed and reigning champion Novak Djokovic ousted Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and three minutes under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the fourth round in New York for 12th time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a masterclass performance by the world no.1 who came out firing right from the start. He broke Kudla in the fourth game en route to wrapping up the first set.<\/p>\n

A break in the fifth game of the second set was enough for the Serb to grab two-sets-to-love lead.<\/p>\n

Novak was in total control, sailing smoothly towards the triumph. He opened the third set with a break and added one more in the seventh game before closing out the match when he served out to love.<\/p>\n

The Belgrade native won 81 percent of points on his first serve and rushed to the net 20 times, capitalising on 15 of those chances.<\/p>\n

Novak saved all seven break points he faced and converted four of nine break point opportunities, improving to a 2-0 H2H mark against the American.<\/p>\n

“I managed to play almost pain-free,”<\/strong> he said. “That’s a big improvement. I am pleased with the way it went.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Match statistics: aces (6-6), double faults (8-3), winners (34-25), unforced errors (31-26), total points won (105-78).<\/p>\n