By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday 28 August 2024
new york – Novak Djokovic picked up his 90th US Open win on Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but didn’t leave feeling overly confident about his form.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion struggled to find his serve and showed his frustration with compatriot Laslo Djere, but he had enough game to take two sets to love the lead against his dangerous opponent and the night his ended early when Djere withdrew due to injury.
After the match, Djokovic spoke about his performance in the 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 victory.
“I haven’t served well in the first two matches here, so I’m still trying to find that rhythm and tempo on serve,” he said.
“If you don’t have a good percentage of first serves, you have to work on your points. Especially against a player like Djere who is really good from the baseline on both forehand and backhand. Just a very solid player. He likes to attack, but he’s also comfortable defending.”
Djokovic hit just 47 percent of his first serves and had to fight eight break points against Djere.
While it wasn’t his most epic US Open performance, the win represented a historic moment. The 37-year-old won his 90th US Open and became the only male player in history to record 90 or more wins at all four majors.
The Serbian legend also has more Grand Slam wins than any other player, male or female. He is now eight more than Roger Federer with a 377-50 all-time record at majors.
Pushed by Djere But Clutch When It Mattered
It could have been a different match, but Djokovic saved a pair of break points as he served for 2-4, 15-40 in the second set and rallied to take the final four games of the set. In the next game, Djere missed an easy volley to give Djokovic the break – he failed to convert two break points that would have given him a 5-3 lead in the set.
“I was lucky he missed that forehand,” he said. “It was very easy beforehand. But, you know, that’s tennis when you’re fighting and playing long rallies and the pressure is on when you have that important point where you have to play shots that normally nine times out of ten you wouldn’t miss, and then you miss.
Two hours and 12 minutes on court were spent in extremely wet conditions at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Temperatures are expected to be lower for the rest of the tournament.
“Last year I remember we had a five-man,” Djokovic said after improving to 3-0 lifetime against Djere and 2-0 against him at the US Open. “So going into the match, I knew that if I didn’t serve well, which was the case, I would have to do and work hard on my points. That’s what I think made both bands play for two hours.”
The four-time US Open champion will face Alexei Popyrin of Australia in the third round.
“The games are going to get tougher from here,” he said. “I know that, but I’m fine. I will find my way, as I have done many times in my career.”
