ESPN News Services Sep 2, 2023, 1:32am ET4 minutes read
NEW YORK – Everyone should know by now that Novak Djokovic should never be ignored. No matter how big the deficit he is faced with. No matter how bad he plays.
And so it made sense that Djokovic would come from two sets down in the third round of the tournament and beat Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, thus avoiding the US Open his earliest exit there since 2006.
“Of course it is always better to win a match than to lose a match. It’s that simple,” said Djokovic, who next faces Borna Gojo, a 25-year-old qualifier from Croatia making his US Open debut. “I think it sends a message to the rest of the field that I can still play five sets deep at night and coming back two sets down is always a strong message to future opponents.”
“At the same time, I honestly don’t really want to be in this position. I prefer a win in straight sets. So I hope I can get back on the same track in the next game.”
This began under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday evening and ended more than three and a half hours later, ending just after 1:30 a.m
It was Djokovic’s eighth career win after losing the first two sets of a match. Before Friday, Djokovic was 1-6 at the US Open when he lost the first two sets, with his only win coming against Roger Federer in the 2011 semifinals.
Once he gained control, he held on and didn’t let Djere recover. In the decisive fifth set, Djokovic was as cool as can be, collecting 12 of the first 14 points to leave no doubt as to how the game would end.
Djokovic, who improved to 38-11 in five sets over his career, has won three of his 23 men’s Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows and has finished runner-up a half-dozen times, including in 2021. The 36th -year-old -old from Serbia did not compete in the US Open last year because he could not enter the US as a foreigner who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19; This rule was lifted in May this year.
Djokovic is No. 2 behind Carlos Alcaraz in New York, and just about everyone expected the two to meet for the championship on September 10th. That seemed to come from Djere, a 28-year-old who also comes from Serbia and was ranked 32nd.
Novak Djokovic survived a five-set win against Laslo Djere in a third-round match he described as “nerve-wracking until the last shot.” Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
“Believe me,” said Djokovic, “it was nerve-wracking until the last shot.”
This would have been by far the biggest win of Djere’s career: He was trying to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and entered Friday with a 0-6 record in majors against opponents ranked in the top 10 .
Perhaps the intimidation factor that favors Djokovic in most encounters was simply not there. They have known each other for years, train together, spend time as Davis Cup teammates and compete on tour as a doubles pair.
When it ended, they met at the net to hug, and Djokovic applauded as Djere left the court.
At a temperature of about 65 degrees, Djere came out strong. He surpassed Djokovic in longest baseline changes.
“Everything was kind of in his strike zone,” Djokovic said. “It was very difficult for me to find a solution.”
In the first two sets, Djere took 28 of 44 points that lasted five or more shots. Djokovic’s footwork seemed a little off. His ball control did too. After a few failures, he would throw up his arms or grimace after others.
By the time Djokovic half-heartedly pushed a forehand return wide to end the second set, the game was 1 hour and 33 minutes old and everything was going Djere’s way.
As he often does when he’s behind, Djokovic went to the locker room to change between sets. And as is often the case, Djokovic was a different player.
“I gave a little pep talk in the mirror. I was kind of laughing at myself because I was so…excited,” Djokovic said. “I forced myself to… lighten the mood.”
Finally, he broke out for the first time that night and led 2-0 in the third set. He scored a 27-pointer when Djere capitulated with a forehand into the net.
Djokovic waved his arms and waved his hands to encourage the crowd to salute. The set would be over in no time.
“When I got the break in the third round, I thought, ‘Okay. I have a chance. I have a chance. I might as well try,'” he said.
Djokovic broke out at the start of the fourth round, using his trademark defensive skills to extend a point until he scored a forehand winner when Djere lost his footing.
Djokovic turned to his coach Goran Ivanisevic and the rest of his entourage in the stands, shouted and punched the air twice.
Later in the set, Djokovic shot so far to the right to extend a point that he got past the doubles court, and Djere – probably surprised to see the ball flying back at him – missed a forehand.
This was part of a pattern that would repeat itself down the stretch. Sent message.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.