Novak Djokovic put in a lot of effort on Wednesday but in the end, he managed to defeat American qualifier Zachary Svajda in four sets and secure his place in the US Open third round for a 19th time, matching the record.
The 38-year-old Serbian was defeated in the first set via tie-break but came back strongly to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium and thus maintain his attempt at a legendary 25th Grand Slam singles title.
Djokovic shared after the match that his first half of the match was really below his expectations. “My tennis for the first part of the match was not that I was happy with. Yet, Zach played some nice and strong shots and took his chances, so credit to him,” he said. The top ATP player said that the process of getting accustomed and getting the needed rhythm is slower for him at his age. “It has been a bit different in the last couple of years for me physically. I get the wear and tear quicker than I used to.”
Ranked 145th and only playing his third US Open main draw, Svajda shocked the four-time champion with an excellent backhand winner that wrapped the first set.
However, Djokovic fought back with a well-known break in the second half of the second set and didn’t look back after that.
After he was trailing 3-1 in the third set, the seventh seed went on to run off five games in a row and take the initiative. The young American who was struggling physically with his legs and who had to take a medical time out continued to struggle and Djokovic took advantage of the situation and won 11 of the last 12 games.
This was his 191st victory on hard courts over 191 Grand Slam matches, 75 appearances in the last 32 of a major. The next opponent of him will be either British Cameron Norrie or Argentine Francisco Comesana.
