US Open: Normal service resumes as Djokovic defeats Gojo with ease

Novak Djokovic has advanced to his 13th quarter-final at the US Open, defeating Croat qualifier Borna Gojo 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sunday night.

After coming back from the brink in his third round match against compatriot Laslo Djere, it was back to the usual clinical performances for Djokovic tonight, with the Serb moving past a fiery Gojo in two hours and 25 minutes.

Gojo makes match entertaining, but outcome never in doubt

After an opening set that saw Novak Djokovic break the big-serving Borna Gojo immediately, then add a second break just games later to win the set 6-2, it looked as though this could be a brief match.

However, the flamboyant Gojo found his groove, and across the second and third sets began to swing from the hips and go after his shots. While this ultimately was unsuccessful on the scoreboard, it did generate the Croatian 40 winners for the match, and get under Djokovic’s skin at times.

The three-time US Open winner was able to negate Gojo’s power by playing accurate tennis, only making a dozen unforced errors in almost two and a half hours, compared to his opponent’s 40. Djokovic was also impeccable on serve, making 67 percent of first serves, winning 88 percent, and offering up only one break point across the entire match.

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“I knew that Borna has a big game,” the second seed said after the match. “I was watching him play in qualifications, I saw that he’s a big shot player, serve and forehand big weapons.”

“One of the keys to the match was to neutralise his serve, try to reduce the number of aces and winners from that shot.

“I try to manage my energy and focus on accuracy. I think I’ve done well in important moments,” concluded the Serbian.

Djokovic ready for Fritz

Up next, Novak Djokovic will play Taylor Fritz, one of three Americans to have made the quarter-finals this year, and whom he holds a 7-0 head-to-head against.

“All of the guys – Fritz, Shelton, Tiafoe – big serve, very aggressive play,” said Djokovic of his upcoming quarter-final task. “Taylor has been top 10 the last few years. He’s been playing some terrific tennis, particularly here in the States.”

“Obviously the matches are only going to get tougher, but I’m ready, I’m ready for the challenge, it’s going to be great.”

This is the first time since 2005 that as many American men have made the quarters at the US Open, and if Djokovic successfully overcomes Fritz, he’ll have the crowd against him again in the semi-finals, with the winner of Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe waiting.

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In the previous rounds of the Flushing Meadows tournament, the 36-year-old Serb won against Frenchman Alexandre Muller (6-0, 6-2, 6-3), Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles (6-4, 6-1, 6-1) and No 32 seed Laslo Djere (4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3). Gojo, ranked No 105, won against Hugo Dellien (6-3, 6-3, 6-1), American Mackenzie McDonald (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) and Jiri Vesely (6-4, 6-3, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

New York (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 44.700.000, most recent results first):

• Alexander Zverev vs. Jannik Sinner
• Daniil Medvedev vs. Alex De Minaur
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Matteo Arnaldi
• Jack Draper vs. Andrey Rublev
• Taylor Fritz beat Dominic Stricker (Q): 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4
• Frances Tiafoe (10) beat Rinky Hijikata (WC): 6-4, 6-1, 6-4
• Ben Shelton beat Tommy Paul (14): 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4