NEW YORK — In a thrilling display of skill and resilience, Novak Djokovic was off to a fierce start in his fourth-round clash at the U.S. Open on Sunday night. Despite experiencing discomfort in his neck, Djokovic showcased his dominance, dispatching the 144th-ranked qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff with a convincing score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, marking his historic 64th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
Leading 4-0 and 15-love, Djokovic executed a perfectly angled volley winner to extend his lead to 30-love, but soon grabbed at the back of his neck, indicating his struggle.
At 38, the seasoned veteran continued to stretch his neck and flex his right shoulder between points, momentarily dropping that game and the next. However, he quickly recalibrated against Struff, who had previously knocked out Frances Tiafoe and was aiming for his first major quarterfinal.
With an impressive 8-0 record against Struff, Djokovic heads into Tuesday’s quarterfinal with a flawless 10-0 head-to-head history against the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz.
The No. 4-seeded Fritz, the last American man remaining in the draw, advanced to the quarterfinals with a solid 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 21 Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic.
Following a strong first set against Struff, Djokovic summoned a trainer for on-court treatment during the changeover, receiving a massage for his neck and shoulder.
Despite any lingering discomfort, his level of play remained unaffected. After that first set, Djokovic had his right forearm massaged, yet displayed no signs of distress when the match resumed.
Earlier in the tournament, he had sought treatment for blisters on his foot in the first round and a lower-back issue in the third.
Djokovic is a four-time champion in New York, with his latest triumph occurring in 2023.
