Djokovic leaves behind, but turns on Servio Laslo Djere and goes to the round of 16 of the US Open – Internacional

2023-09-02 08:14:00

After losing by 2 sets to 0, Serbian Novak Djokovic managed an imposing comeback over his compatriot Laslo Djere in a duel that started at dawn this Saturday (2) and qualified for the round of 16 of the US Open.

Djokovic closed the game in 3 sets to 2, with partials of 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 and 6-3, in three hours and 45 minutes on the central court of Flushing Meadows.

“I had a lot of trouble finding the solution. At the beginning, I didn’t have many chances, but then I raised the level. When I broke in the third set, I realized that I had an opening”, said ‘Nole’ after the match.

“After the second set, during the bathroom break, I gave a motivational speech in front of the mirror. I had to manage to raise my level. It doesn’t always work, but here it did”, he revealed.

Djokovic, who has not lost a third-round game in New York since 2006, will face Croatian Borna Gojo for a place in the quarterfinals.

“Now I have to rest well for this 36-year-old body to recover for the next round,” concluded the Serb.

Back at the US Open after being sidelined last year for his refusal to be vaccinated against covid-19, Djokovic is looking for his 24th Grand Slam, to extend the record for the biggest winner among men and equal the mark. by the legendary Australian Margaret Court.

With the main contenders on his side of the tournament bracket already eliminated (Holger Rune, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas), his biggest obstacle on the way to the title could be Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who in the campaign to the final could face others favorites like Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev or Andrey Rublev.