Novak Djokovic's struggles at the US Open continued, but the 24-time major champion managed to avoid an early defeat on the courts of Flushing Meadows.
After a four-set win over Lehner Thien in his opening match, the Serb admitted he was experiencing physical discomfort and again showed noticeable signs of discomfort during the first set against qualifier Zachary Svajda.
The American tennis player took the first set in the deciding tie-break, causing a stormy reaction from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, but Djokovic was able to turn the match around and win with a final score of 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-3 6-1.
“I wasn’t in the best shape, to be honest,” the 38-year-old veteran commented. “The first half of the match left me unsatisfied with my performance, but the level of tennis that Zac showed was impressive.”
“Unfortunately, he faced physical limitations towards the end of the second set, but his tenacity deserves respect. It became obvious that his serves were not as effective as before.”
Djokovic's shock third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin at last year's tournament remains the earliest New York upset of his career. Notably, he had never previously lost to a major opponent as low-ranked as world No. 145 Svajda.
In the opening set, Djokovic did not demonstrate his usual level of play, which allowed Svajda to take advantage of his chance in the decisive match.
As the match progressed, the Serbian tennis player began to find his optimal form, especially after his opponent's physical condition worsened. Despite a brief surge of resistance in the third set, the American quickly lost his competitive edge.
Asked about the prospects for improving his form, Djokovic said: “I believe in it – this scenario is typical for my performances at majors. With each new round, my feelings on the court are improving.”
The tennis community expected a big debut from Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonseca in the Grand Slam series, but the 19-year-old athlete lost to world No. 21 Tomas Machac with a score of 7-6 (4) 6-2 6-3.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
