Novak Djokovic overcame an early setback to book his place in the third round of the US Open men’s singles after defeating American Zachary Svadja in four sets on Wednesday, August 27.
The Serbian dropped the opening set and looked unsettled as Svadja played with confidence, using his serve and forehand to dictate rallies. However, the momentum shifted midway through the second set when the unseeded American picked up an injury that visibly affected his serving power and court movement. Djokovic took full advantage, raising his level and winning the next three sets to seal the victory.
With this result, Djokovic equalled Roger Federer’s record for the most hard-court wins in Grand Slam singles competitions, with both legends tied at 191 victories each. The milestone adds another chapter to his remarkable career as he continues to chase further success in New York.
Reflecting on the performance, Djokovic admitted he did not start the match at his best. “I didn’t feel that great to be honest. I wasn’t happy with my tennis for the first part of the match, but also credit to Zach for playing some really high-quality tennis,” he said.
“It was unfortunate that he struggled with injury towards the end of the second set, but kudos to him for staying on the court. It was obvious he couldn’t serve as well as he did for a set and a half. I wished him all the best at the net because I think he’s playing really well.”
When asked about finding rhythm in Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic added: “That’s what I’m hoping for. That was the case for most of my Grand Slam career. The deeper I go in the tournament, the better I feel about my game. It’s obviously a little different in the past couple of years for me body-wise, I get wear and tear quicker than I ever used to, so I have to deal with that, a lot of recovery stuff to try to make myself able to perform at the highest level.”
Djokovic will next face the winner of the second-round clash between Cameron Norrie of the UK and Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.
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