US Open 2024: Novak Djokovic outlasts countryman Laslo Djere in New York heat as fellow Serbian retires in third set
Novak Djokovic showed on Wednesday evening that he is still the man to beat for Serbia by beating compatriot Laslo Djere in an instant to reach the third round of the US Open.
Djere, who is ranked No. 27 in the world, defeated Djokovic in five sets in the third round of the US Open last year. He tested Djokovic at times, but lost his balance when he retired from the match due to injury while Djokovic was leading 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 in the third set.
The polarising Djokovic received a thunderous applause from the Queens crowd and continued to hold on despite some moments of brilliance from Djere.
While Djere tested Djokovic, the heat also played a role for the 24-time Grand Slam winner and his opponent.
A heat wave was forecast in New York on Wednesday and although temperatures had dropped by the time the game kicked off around 9 p.m. local time, it was still stuffy with the roof closed (which Frances Tiafoe complained about on Monday) and thunderstorms in the area.
Novak Djokovic held his ground against strong play from his compatriot Laslo Djere on Wednesday
Djere sometimes caused Djokovic problems, but eventually retired in the third set due to an injury
Just five games into the match, when he was leading 3-2, Djokovic took off his shirt at the substitution and hung a cooling towel around his neck.
Both players were also provided by physiotherapists during the match, where everyone had their abdominal muscles massaged.
For most of the match, which lasted two hours and sixteen minutes, there was little difference between the Serbs. Djere served very effectively and defeated Djokovic 30-18. His fast forehand certainly helped.
It wasn’t until the tenth game, when Djokovic was leading 5-4, that he finally crossed the line and broke his opponent to win the first set.
The second set, in which Djere took a 3-1 lead after beating Djokovic, eventually ended in the same fashion after Djokovic fought back.
Djere’s best chance to get back into the match came when he held serve and led 4-3 in the second set.
The match ended 3-2 and Djokovic was so unbalanced by his opponent that at one point he attempted (unsuccessfully) a daring drop shot from the back line.
But his great return game (at times he slid like clay over the hard court) held up and eventually he was strong enough to level the set, before finally ending the match with another break two games later.