Sadly Navok Djokovic in pains due to injury facing which may……….more
Novak Djokovic took another step toward a record 25th grand slam singles title and a rare US Open repeat when fellow Serb Laslo Djere retired with an injury during the third set of their second-round encounter on Wednesday night beneath the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Three days short of a year after fighting back from two sets down against the same opponent at the same stage in the same venue, the second-seed Djokovic saw to it that lightning did not strike twice, even as a sudden thunderstorm suspended play across the grounds and created sweat-box conditions inside the main show court.
Wearing a sleeve over his surgically repaired right knee, the world No 2 led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere signalled he could no longer continue, a welcome tap out from an opponent who had pushed him the distance in their previous two meetings.The day three nightcap unfolded at a deliberate pace as both men traded holds until Djokovic raised his level in the 12th game to break at love and take the first set after an hour. When the dogged Djere broke early in the second, the crowd sensed they could be in for another long nightBut the physicality of the rallies soon took their toll on the 29-year-old, who appeared to hurt his lower abdomen while leading 4-2 and threatening to extend his lead. Djokovic broke and then again when his opponent missed badly with a forehand on set point. Broken at love again early in the third after a medical timeout and in visible agony, Djere dolefully flew the white flag after 2hr 16min.
“It’s not what we want,” Djokovic said. “It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover. But he had an injury that took him out of the tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically to this level.
“He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should’ve been his second set, honestly. It was 4-2, 15-40. Overall, it was a big fight. Over two hours for two sets.
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