NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic cleaned up his sport after early errors to outlast ailing American qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 6-1 within the second spherical of the US Open on Wednesday.
The maestro of Arthur Ashe Stadium held his racket up like a violin after closing out his 92nd win on the US Open with a satisfying overhead smash to maintain his newest quest for a document twenty fifth main title on monitor.
Svajda, taking part in in solely his seventh main most important draw match, put up a superb struggle earlier than an obvious leg harm restricted his motion.
“Wasn’t joyful about my tennis the primary a part of the match but in addition credit score to Zach for enjoying some actually prime quality tennis,” mentioned Djokovic, who subsequent performs the winner of a match between Briton Cam Norrie and Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.
Svajda saved two break factors within the first sport, an early signal that he wouldn’t hand the four-time champion the win, and he survived a 27-shot rally within the tiebreak earlier than sending an outstanding backhand shot out of Djokovic’s attain on set level.
However the Serbian seventh seed upped his degree throughout the board from there, making simply 4 unforced errors within the second set in comparison with 14 within the first, and he bought the break within the sixth sport as Svajda whacked the ball into the web.
There have been extra indicators of hassle for the American as he met with the physio to have his left thigh massaged briefly earlier than the third set and once more after the third and fifth video games, whereas his on-court pace diminished.
Djokovic bought the important break from the baseline within the seventh sport of the third set with a well-placed forehand winner down the road and ran away with the competition from there.
He transformed on his fourth break level within the second sport of the fourth set and broke once more for a 5-1 lead earlier than wrapping up the win.
—Reuters