- Novak Djokovic beat his compatriot Laslo Djere in wet conditions
- Both players received medical attention during the match with the roof closed.
Novak Djokovic proved he remains Serbia’s man to beat on Wednesday night as he eased past countryman Laslo Djere to advance to the third round of the US Open.
Djere, who has been ranked as high as No. 27 in the world, took Djokovic to five sets in the third round of last year’s US Open and put Djokovic under pressure at times here but faded when he retired from the match with injury with Djokovic leading 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 in the third set.
The polarizing Djokovic received a standing ovation as he was introduced to the Queens crowd and stayed the course despite some brilliant moments from Djere and some issues of his own on serve.
“I knew that if I didn’t serve well, as I did, I would have to work really hard to get my points,” said Djokovic, who committed eight double faults. “I guess that’s what caused the two sets to be played for two hours.”
But as much as Djere tested Djokovic, the heat was also a factor for the 24-time Grand Slam winner and his opponent.
Novak Djokovic battled wet conditions at Arthur Ashe to advance to third round
Laslo Djere put Djokovic under pressure at times, but eventually retired in the third set due to injury.
There was a heatwave warning in New York on Wednesday, and while temperatures had dropped by the time the game kicked off around 9 p.m. local time, it got muggy because the roof was closed (which Frances Tiafoe complained about on Monday) and it rained in the area.
Just five games into the match, when he was leading 3-2, Djokovic took off his shirt at the changeover and put what looked like a cooling towel around his neck.
Both players were also attended by physiotherapists During the match, each of them received abdominal massages.
For much of the two-hour, 16-minute match, there wasn’t much between the Serbs, with Djere being very effective on serve and outscoring Djokovic 30-18, with his quick forehand certainly helping in that department.
It wasn’t until the tenth game, with Djokovic leading 5-4, that he finally got over the hump and broke his opponent’s serve to win the first set.
The second set, in which Djere took a 3-1 lead after breaking Djokovic’s serve, ended in the same manner after Djokovic recovered.
Novak Djokovic withstood a strong game from his compatriot Djere on Wednesday
The roof was closed at Arthur Ashe due to thunderstorms outside and both players appeared to struggle with the conditions.
Djere’s best chance to get back into the match came when he held serve for a 4-3 lead in the second set.
The game went to three deuces and Djokovic was thrown off balance enough by his opponent to at one point (unsuccessfully) attempt an audacious drop shot from the baseline.
But his tremendous return game (at times he slid across the hard court as if it were clay) kept him alive, and he eventually did enough to tie the set before essentially putting the final coffin on the match two games later with another break, after holding serve.
He will next face world number 28 Alexei Popyrin.
“Yes, the matches are going to get more and more difficult from now on,” Djokovic said. “I know that, but I’m fine. I’ll find my way, like I’ve done many times in my career.”