Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, advanced to the US Open third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium after fellow Serbian Laslo Djere retired early in the third set. Djokovic, the second seed, was leading 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere decided to stop the match.
With this win, Novak Djokovic became the first male player to achieve 90 wins at all four major tournaments. He is now only eight wins away from matching Jimmy Connors’ record for the most US Open match wins.
The first set was intense and lasted an hour. Djokovic won the set 6-4, taking every point on Djere’s serve in the final game.
Novak Djokovic Overcomes Challenges in the Second Set
The second set started with a long game that lasted 16 minutes and had four deuces. The humidity made it tough, and Novak Djokovic slipped several times, including on his braced right knee, which was injured at the French Open in May. Despite his struggles, Djokovic held his serve.
Djere broke Djokovic’s serve in the third game, taking a 2-1 lead, and soon was ahead 4-2, looking set to win the set. But Djokovic fought back, tying the score at 4-4. The match, which was now almost two hours long, saw both players struggling with the humid conditions, gasping for air after long rallies. Djere took a medical timeout for pain in his lower left abdomen, while Djokovic took a tablet and called for the physio.
Laslo Djere Retires
After the timeout, Djere returned but failed to hold his serve, sending a forehand long on set point, giving Djokovic a 6-4, 6-4 lead.
In the third set, Novak Djokovic easily held serve to lead 1-0. In the next game, Djere lost every point on his serve, then walked to the net and retired, ending the match after two hours and 16 minutes.
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