Djokovic navigates Djere challenge, muggy US Open evening

Second seed Novak Djokovic moved into the third round of the US Open when Laslo Djere retired on Wednesday night in New York.

Djokovic led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere withdrew injured. The match was far from straight forward, however, with both sets taking over an hour and the defending champion coming back from a break down in the second.

The win sees Djokovic become the first player in tennis history to have more than 90 wins at all four Grand Slams. No other players have reached the 80-win mark at all majors.

Lethargic Djokovic does enough against Djere

This was always going to be a tricky match for Djokovic, with compatriot Djere knowing his game inside-out and pushing him to five sets last US Open.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion did not look comfortable, and at times appeared to be struggling with his breathing and movement. An ab massage and some treatment to his left leg occurred between sets one and two, while he was often keeled over and displaying signs of distress on the muggy New York evening.

However, this match was never going to be about putting on a display of his tennis prowess – that, Djokovic will save for the second week. This was about conserving energy and getting to the third round.

Thanks to an injury for Djere in the third set, Djokovic achieved that goal. At times he played with fire, once falling behind a break and 15-40 in the second set. He pulled it back, however, with some timely insertions of concentration.

Djokovic will want to improve his serve percentage, which for the second match in a row was below-par. He made just 47 percent of first serves, and coughed up a disappointing eight double faults across two sets. He also made 26 unforced errors to just 18 winners.

There were bright spots as well. 13 of 16 points won at the net, seven of eight break points defended and impressive execution when required to steal both sets 6-4.

Novak Djokovic will play Australian Alexei Popyrin, the No 28 seed, next.

Djokovic won against qualifier Radu Albot (6-2, 6-2, 6-4) in the previous round of the US Open.

In the first round of the US Open, Laslo Djere beat German Jan-Lennard Struff (6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-2).

New York (Grand Slam), other second-round results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 75.000.000, most recent results first):

• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
• Fabian Marozsan vs. Daniil Medvedev
• Max Purcell vs. Tommy Paul
• Mariano Navone vs. Daniel Evans
• David Goffin vs. Adrian Mannarino
• Tristan Schoolkate vs. Jakub Mensik
• Arthur Fils vs. Gabriel Diallo
• Alex De Minaur vs. Otto Virtanen
• Facundo Diaz Acosta vs. Jack Draper
• Flavio Cobolli vs. Zizou Bergs
• Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. Nuno Borges
• Jannik Sinner vs. Alex Michelsen
• Jordan Thompson vs. Hubert Hurkacz
• Matteo Arnaldi vs. Roman Safiullin
• Tomas Machac vs. Sebastian Korda
• Mattia Bellucci vs. Christopher O’Connell
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Matteo Berrettini: 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-1
• Casper Ruud vs. Gael Monfils: wednesday
• Lorenzo Musetti (18) beat Miomir Kecmanovic: 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
• Ben Shelton (13) beat Roberto Bautista Agut: 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
• Alexei Popyrin beat Pedro Martinez Portero: 6-2, 6-4, 6-0
• Juncheng Shang beat Roberto Carballes Baena: 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (2)
• Francisco Comesana beat Ugo Humbert (17): 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
• Andrey Rublev (6) beat Arthur Rinderknech: 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
• Frances Tiafoe (20) beat Alexander Shevchenko: 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 ret.
• Alexander Zverev (4) beat Alexandre Muller (WC): 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1
• Brandon Nakashima beat Arthur Cazaux: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Sebastian Baez (21): 6-1, 2-0 ret.
• Grigor Dimitrov (9) beat Rinky Hijikata: 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (4)
• Jiri Lehecka (32) beat Mitchell Krueger (Q): 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Francisco Cerundolo (29): 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3