Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory in his US Open third round match against Laslo Djere of Serbia | Image credit: Reuters
Everyone should know now to never ignore Novak Djokovic. No matter how big the deficit he faces. No matter how poorly he may play.
And so it makes sense for Djokovic to come back in two sets to beat Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in the third round of the tournament. US Open, Avoids what would have been his earliest exit since 2006.
“Believe me,” Djokovic said, “it was tense until the last shot.”
The match started under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night and ended just over three and a half hours later, ending shortly after 1:30 a.m.
It was Djokovic’s 8th career victory after losing the opening 2 sets. He also improved to 38-11 in five sets over his career.
Once he took control, he held tight and never let Djere recover. In the crucial match of the fifth set, Djokovic performed coolly, collecting 12 of the original 14 points so there was no doubt how things would turn out.
Djokovic has won three of his men’s record 23 Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows and has been runner-up a half-dozen times, including in 2021. The 36-year-old from Serbia did not compete in the last US Open five because he could not come to the United States as an alien who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19; That rule was lifted this May.
No. 1 seeded Djokovic 2nd place in New York behind Carlos Alcaraz, and quite a lot of people were expecting the two of them to meet for the title on September 11. 10. It will be a rematch. in their riveting final at Wimbledon in July, which Alcaraz won in five sets.
That appeared to be derailed by Djere, a 28-year-old also from Serbia and seeded 32nd in New York.
It’s probably the biggest win of his career: He’s trying to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time and go into Friday with a 0-6 record at previous pro tournaments. Competitors ranked in the Top 10.
Perhaps the element of intimidation that favors Djokovic in most matches was simply absent on this cool evening – at least at the start. The compatriots have known each other for many years, training together, spending time as Davis Cup teammates and competing in the tournament as a pair.
When the match ended, they met at the net to hug each other.
Djokovic clapped as Djere walked off the court.
“At first I didn’t have much of a choice, but in the third round I lifted myself,” Djokovic said. “When I got the break in the third round, I thought, ‘Okay. I have a chance. I have a chance. I might as well pursue it. … I started reading his match more than the first two sets.”
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