Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the US Open after his compatriot Laslo Djere retired in the third set due to an injury. Djokovic was leading 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere, who has been struggling to return to form, decided to withdraw under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants to see a walkover,” Djokovic commented on the match. He acknowledged Djere’s injury issues that have affected his ability to compete at this level. Djokovic noted that Djere, an excellent player in these conditions, had his chances, specifically mentioning a crucial moment in the second set where Djere led 4-2 and had break points.
The match, lasting just over two hours, saw Djokovic battling with his serve, hitting only 47 percent of first serves. He acknowledged his struggles on serve, relying heavily on his baseline game. Djere had a medical timeout at one point to receive treatment for an abdominal issue, but he was unable to win another game after that.
With this victory, Djokovic also made history by becoming the first male player to achieve 90 wins at all four Grand Slam tournaments. He is now just eight wins away from tying Jimmy Connors for the most career match victories at the US Open.
Looking ahead, Djokovic will face Alexei Popyrin in the next round, having previously won against him at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. Djokovic is aiming for his 25th major title and his fifth US Open victory, which would put him ahead of Margaret Court for the most singles titles in Grand Slam history.