NEW YORK — In his second match at the US Open, Novak Djokovic showed signs of fatigue, struggling at times and even conceding the first set. Yet, true to form at Flushing Meadows, the 24-time Grand Slam victor roared back, securing his place in the third round.
Djokovic enhanced his remarkable record to 36-0 in the opening two rounds in New York, a venue where he has clinched four titles. He overcame American qualifier Zachary Svajda, ranked 145th, with a dominant comeback of 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.
“I really focused on enjoying the moment, especially after winning that first set,” remarked Svajda, a 22-year-old talent from San Diego. “It took me by surprise. I thought, ‘Wow!’”
When asked about his performance in his first match since his Wimbledon semifinal loss to the eventual champion Jannik Sinner on July 11, while grappling with a groin injury, Djokovic candidly admitted: “Honestly, not great.”
“He seemed a bit off,” noted Svajda, who experienced cramps as the match progressed. “There were moments when he appeared frustrated.”
Later at his news conference, the 38-year-old Djokovic elaborated on his feelings.
“It’s not a lack of motivation. It’s more about my frustrations with my own game; internal struggles that are probably best kept private,” he explained after advancing to the third round at a major for the 75th time, surpassing Roger Federer for the most such appearances by a male player.
“I’m just trying to stay focused and figure things out once I step onto the court,” Djokovic added. “It’s not that I don’t enjoy competing; I do. But not playing well can be frustrating. That’s why I place extra pressure on myself and my team to improve match after match.”
Next up for Djokovic is British left-hander Cam Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2022 but has yet to secure a victory against Djokovic, holding a 0-6 record.
Norrie triumphed over Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (4) after a grueling four-hour match, now facing the challenging task that Svajda confronted on Wednesday against Djokovic.
“He excels at everything, which is truly impressive,” Svajda noted. “I had discussions with my team and coaches beforehand, trying to assess how to tackle him. It’s Novak Djokovic — finding weaknesses is quite the challenge.”
Tempers Flare: Townsend and Ostapenko Clash Post-Match
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko exchanged heated words right after Townsend claimed victory in their second-round match, winning 7-5, 6-1. Townsend, the American ranked No. 1 in doubles, revealed that Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion from Latvia, accused her of having “no class” and “no education.”
Highlights from the US Open on Wednesday
Among the notable events, No. 5 seed Jack Draper withdrew due to ongoing issues with his left arm. Advancing through the rounds were defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s runners-up Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, as well as stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, 2021 champion Emma Raducanu, and Emma Navarro. In a surprising turn, No. 12 seed Casper Ruud suffered a defeat against Belgium’s Raphael Collignon, losing 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Collignon, ranked 107th, had never won a major match prior to this tournament.
What to Expect on Thursday at Flushing Meadows?
On the horizon, past US Open champions like Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff are set to compete, alongside No. 14 seed Tommy Paul, while Venus Williams will debut in the first round of women’s doubles.
