NEW YORK — For the second contest in a row at this US Open, Novak Djokovic appeared a bit sluggish, a bit off, for a stretch. This time, he even dropped the opening set. After which, as at all times at Flushing Meadows, the 24-time Grand Slam champion progressed to the third spherical.
Djokovic improved to 36-0 throughout the primary and second rounds in New York, a spot he is gained 4 championships, by coming again to beat 145th-ranked American qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.
“I actually tried to soak it in and benefit from the second, particularly once I gained the primary set,” stated Svajda, a 22-year-old from San Diego. “It sort of shocked me. I used to be like, ‘Wow!’”
Requested on courtroom afterward how he felt in his first competitors since dropping to eventual champion Jannik Sinner within the Wimbledon semifinals on July 11 whereas hindered by a groin damage, Djokovic replied: “Not that nice, to be trustworthy.”
“He was lacking somewhat bit,” stated Svajda, who obtained cramps in his legs and arms because the match wore on. “He was getting somewhat annoyed.”
At his information convention later, the 38-year-old Djokovic spoke somewhat extra about his temper.
“It’s not a motivation factor. It’s identical to me a bit annoyed with my recreation, after which I sort of undergo stuff internally that — you don’t need to know the small print what I’m going by means of and telling myself,” he defined after attending to the third spherical at a serious for the seventy fifth time, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for probably the most such appearances by a person.
“I’m simply making an attempt to be locked in. Simply making an attempt to resolve the riddle as soon as I’m on the courtroom,” Djokovic continued. “It’s not like I’m not discovering pleasure on the courtroom competing. I take pleasure in competing, however I don’t take pleasure in not taking part in properly. That’s why I put further stress on myself and my workforce to be higher the subsequent day, the subsequent match.”
That can come towards Cam Norrie, a British left-hander who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2022, or Francisco Comesana of Argentina.
Whichever man it’s will face the duty that Svajda did Wednesday towards Djokovic.
“He does every little thing so properly, which is unimaginable,” Svajda stated. “I used to be speaking to my workforce and coaches earlier than, making an attempt to determine it out. It’s Novak Djokovic, so there’s not an enormous weak point.”
What else occurred on the US Open on Wednesday?
No. 5 seed Jack Draper, a semifinalist in 2024, withdrew due to a lingering damage to his left arm. Winners included each of final yr’s runners-up — Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz — together with No. 10 seed Emma Navarro and 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. No. 12 Casper Ruud, whose 0-3 file in Grand Slam finals features a loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows in 2022, was eradicated 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 by Raphael Collignon of Belgium. The 107th-ranked Collignon had by no means gained a match at a serious or performed a five-setter till this match. Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka had been scheduled to play their second-round matches in Ashe at evening.
Who’s scheduled to play Thursday at Flushing Meadows?
Previous US Open champions Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are in Ashe, as is No. 14 seed Tommy Paul.
