Djokovic Advances to US Open Third Round

Novak Djokovic secured his spot in the US Open’s third round after overcoming American qualifier Zachary Svajda in a match that concluded 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. The match took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.

This triumph marks Djokovic’s 92nd victory at the US Open, sustaining his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th major title.

With this win, the holder of 24 major titles matched Roger Federer’s record of 191 hard-court victories in Grand Slam tournaments.

The Serbian athlete exhibited initial nervousness, conceding the first set to his opponent, who was participating in only his seventh major main draw.

Svajda made a strong impression, successfully defending two break points in the opening game and enduring a 27-shot rally in the tiebreak before executing a superb backhand shot, placing it beyond Djokovic’s reach to secure the set point.

The American player faced physical challenges, requiring brief treatment on his left thigh from a physical therapist prior to the third set, and again after the third and fifth games. The effects of this discomfort visibly impacted his performance in subsequent plays.

Djokovic achieved a crucial break in the seventh game of the third set, capitalizing on Svajda’s serve from the baseline with an accurate forehand winner down the line. This moment proved pivotal, allowing the Serbian competitor to dominate the remainder of the match.

In the fourth set’s second game, the Serbian tennis star managed to break serve on his fourth attempt, quickly establishing a 5-1 advantage before clinching the overall victory.

Novak Djokovic shared his thoughts on the victory, admitting dissatisfaction with his performance during the match’s initial phase but acknowledging his opponent’s strong play.

“I wasn’t pleased with my level of tennis in the early stages of the match. Credit to Zach for displaying exceptional quality,” Djokovic commented.

Looking ahead, Djokovic is scheduled to face either Cameron Norrie from Britain or Francisco Comesana from Argentina in the next round.