New Delhi: Defending champion Novak Djokovic defeated Laslo Djere to notch up his 90th US Open and set a record to be the only man to have registered 90 victories at all four Grand Slams.
World number two Djokovic led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when his Serb compatriot retired in the third set during their second round clash.
Four-time champion Djokovic is attempting to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and was up against an opponent who needed a medical time-out to treat an injury just before losing the second set.
Djokovic needed a time-out for a trainer to treat his side strain after winning the first set against the world 109.
Novak Djokovic has become the first man to win 9️⃣0️⃣ matches at all four Grand Slams 😲💪#USOpen pic.twitter.com/4ZdE4LEeBU
— Eurosport (@eurosport) August 29, 2024
“It’s not what we want to see when there’s a retirement. Laslo had an injury which took him off the tour for some time and he’s been struggling to come back,” the 37-year-old Djokovic said after his win.
“He’s such a good player in these conditions and the second set should have been his, he was 4-2 up. I don’t know if (my) winning the second set probably put more burden on him.”
Djokovic next faces Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, having beaten him at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, with both matches stretching to four sets.
Popyrin recently won the Montreal Masters before the US Open and Djokovic said the world number 28 is a tough opponent, having reached the last 32 in New York for the third time.
“He’s getting closer and closer and knocking on the door. We always knew he had the big serve but now he is more consistent, making fewer errors than he used to. He’s pumped and playing some good tennis,” Djokovic said.
World number two Djokovic led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when his Serb compatriot Laslo Djere retired in the third set during their second round US Open clash. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
