Novak Djokovic’s U.S. Open title defense got off to a shaky start as he struggled with his serve and faced a determined opponent in Laslo Djere. Despite the challenges, Djokovic managed to secure a 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 victory when Djere was forced to retire due to an injury.
Djokovic’s serve, usually a reliable weapon, was off-target throughout the match. He missed more than he made, giving Djere opportunities to break. The Serbian star admitted that he should have lost the second set and that Djere’s injury may have been the only reason he won the match.
Despite the difficulties, Djokovic remained confident in his ability to improve as the tournament progresses. “The matches are only going to get tougher from here. I know that, but I’m fine,” he said. “I’ll find my way, as I have done many times in my career.”
Djokovic’s victory marked his 90th win at the U.S. Open, making him the first man to reach that total at all four Grand Slams. He will face No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin in the third round on Friday.
Djere, who had won a set against Djokovic at last year’s U.S. Open, pushed the defending champion to the limit in the first two sets. He led 4-2 in the second set before experiencing pain near his hip. Despite finishing the set, he was unable to continue and retired after losing the first two games of the third set.
Djokovic acknowledged the physical battle that had taken place in the opening sets. “In the end, not the kind of finish that we players or crowd wants to see, but I think it’s probably due to that physical battle that we had in the opening two sets,” he said.
Despite his serve struggles, Djokovic managed to break Djere’s serve at crucial moments, including when he was down 4-2 in the second set. He also showed his resilience by fighting back from a break down in the first set.
Djokovic’s victory sets up a third-round clash with Popyrin, who defeated Alexander Bublik in straight sets. The Australian has a big serve and powerful groundstrokes, but Djokovic will be confident in his ability to overcome the challenge and continue his quest for a record-breaking 24th Grand Slam title.
