The 24-time Grand Slam winner has put a tough second-round tie at the US Open behind him.
Novak Djokovic, currently number two in the ATP rankings, was winning 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Laslo Djere (109th) left the court due to physical problems in the last night match at Flushing Meadows.
“It wasn’t how I wanted it, nor how the public wanted it, that someone had to retire”“He is a great player,” said the 37-year-old. “The second set should have been his, but losing it put a bigger burden on him.”
The Serbian giant had a tough time against his compatriot, who had already put him on the ropes in the third round last year by forcing him to come back from two sets down.
This time, however, Djokovic was not in danger, although he was 2-4 down in the second set, when he had to seek medical treatment for problems in his stomach area and was seen suffocating in the stifling heat under the roof of the Arthur Ashe rink.
“Serve better”
Djokovic, who is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title, an all-time record in the sport of tennis, gritted his teeth and found a key break to turn the score around.
It was then Djere who needed medical attention for an abdominal problem.which forced him to retire after the first two games of the third leg.
Novak, 37, reached 90 match wins at the US Open and broke his tie with Federer, so that he now has only Connors’ 98 wins ahead of him. He is also the first male player to have won at least 90 matches at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
His next rival will be Australian Alexei Popyrin, number 28 in the ATP.who quickly defeated the Spaniard Pedro Martínez (6-2, 6-4 and 6-0).
“Popyrin has been playing great tennis in recent weeks and I’m going to need to serve better,” admitted N. Djokovic, who committed eight double faults, compared to just one for his opponent.
The statistics of the clash are on Flashscore.
