Novak Djokovic survived a tense opening set and reached the third round of the US Open, defeating American qualifier Zachary Svajda in four on Wednesday on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 38-year-old Serbian star, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, dropped the first set 6-7 (5/7) but bounced back to win 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. Djokovic had not played since his Wimbledon semifinal exit and admitted he’s still working his way into form as the tournament progresses, noting his body feels different and wear-and-tear sets in quicker now than before.
Djokovic advances to the US Open third round for a record-equalling 19th time and will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who defeated Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (7/4). Norrie is one of only two British men still standing after fifth seed Jack Draper withdrew earlier in the day with a left-arm bone bruise, having reached last year’s New York semi-finals but missing warm-up events in Cincinnati and Toronto this year. Draper’s withdrawal also clears Jannik Sinner’s path toward defending the title, as Sinner was set to meet Draper in the quarter-finals.
In other men’s action, Norwegian 12th seed Casper Ruud, the 2022 US Open finalist, fell to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Fourth seed Taylor Fritz moved through with a 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-4 victory over Lloyd Harris, while American Frances Tiafoe, seeded 17, also advanced after a four-set win over qualifier Martin Damm 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5. Later, Carlos Alcaraz was set for a night match against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci as he keeps his own campaign rolling.
On the women’s side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was also in action in a night match against Russia’s Polina Kudermetova. Emma Raducanu continued her strong form, defeating Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1; Tjen had become the first Indonesian to reach a Grand Slam main draw in 21 years and had upset 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in round one. Raducanu will face ninth seed Elena Rybakina next. Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, who had become the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles match, saw her run end with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa. Fourth seed Jessica Pegula advanced by beating Russia’s Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3, and Victoria Azarenka, the Belarusian former two-time Australian Open champion, beat Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3.
Overall, Djokovic’s win keeps him on track for another deep run as he hunts a milestone 25th major, while the rest of the draw continues to shape up with notable results from Raducanu, Pegula, and Sabalenka in the women’s draw and Fritz, Tiafoe, and Alcaraz pacing the men’s field.
Summary and outlook:
– Djokovic rode out a first-set hiccup to reach round three, signaling he remains a dangerous contender even as he tries to find his rhythm early in the event.
– The draw opened slightly at the top with Draper’s withdrawal, potentially aiding Sinner’s bid to defend his title.
– In the women’s bracket, Sabalenka and Raducanu look to sustain momentum as the field tightens around them, with Pegula and Azarenka also delivering solid performances.
– Positive takeaway: Djokovic’s resilience and experience could be a major factor as the tournament progresses, offering the possibility of a deep run and a continued chase for historical milestones.
Additional comments:
– The US Open landscape remains highly competitive across both men’s and women’s draws, with several young players proving they can challenge the established stars.
– If Djokovic continues to build match sharpness, expect him to be a major threat in the later rounds, especially given the depth of experience he brings to big-match scenarios.
Note: This rewrite focuses on presenting the key results and context from the provided report, with added analysis and forward-looking notes to enhance value for a sports-news audience.