Number two seed at the US Open and defending champion Novak Djokovic made it to the third round after Laslo Djere retired early in the third set of the second round at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York on Wednesday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was leading 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 in the third set before his compatriot decided to throw in the towel because of injury.
“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover,” Djokovic said. “But he obviously had an injury that took him out of the Tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically to this level. He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should’ve been his second set, honestly. It was 4-2, 15/40.
“Overall, it was a big fight. Over two hours for two sets. I served awful. So playing without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run. So I guess I had to rely on my baseline game.”
Meanwhile, Djere held two break points at 4-2 in the second set but he could not convert them against his countryman.
Djokovic is currently 31-7 in the ongoing season but he is yet to win a Slam in 2024. Before the US Open, Djokovic won the Gold medal at the Paris Olympics after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final by 7-6, 7-6.
Djokovic was beaten by the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final but he brought his best against the youngster at the Games.
Novak Djokovic will next take on Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the ongoing Major.
