Novak Djokovic defeated Laslo Djere 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 in the second round of the US Open and advanced to the third round. Djokovic took roughly two hours to hold off Djere in a business-as-usual match. Djere retired in the third set due to the injury.
“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover. He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should have been his second set, honestly. He was up 4-2. It was a big fight, over two hours for two sets. I served awful. Without a serve, you have to grind, you have to run. I had to rely on my baseline game. Of course, I have to be happy with a win and in the important moments that I played one more ball over than the net than him. The matches are only going to get tougher from here. But I’ll be fine. I’ll find my way as I have many times in my career,” said Novak Djokovic in a post-match interview.
Novak Djokovic will face Alexei Popyrin on Friday for a place in the fourth round.
Watch the highlights from the match below.
Watch a post-match interview below.