Novak Djokovic isn’t all smiles despite making it through to the third round of the US Open in New York.
Djokovic wanted the early night match, but was forced to take on compatriot Laslo Djere in the late night match at Flushing Meadows.
Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted the US Open encounter, which ended early after Djere withdrew due to an abdominal issue.
It was, however, still a lengthy match, with Djokovic and Djere playing for over two hours in the heat and humidity.
But the second round clash ended at 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 in favour of second-seed Djokovic when his opponent retired.
Novak Djokovic makes claim about his serving after his latest US Open win
Despite securing a third round tie with Australian ace Alexei Popyrin in Queens, Djokovic was quick to criticise himself.
Speaking in his US Open second round press conference, the Serbian said: “I haven’t been serving well the first two matches here, so I am still trying to find that rhythm and tempo on the serve.
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“If you don’t have that good percentage of first service in you have to work for your points, particularly against a player like Djere, who is really good at the baseline from both sides – forehand and backhand – a very solid player. Likes to attack but also is comfortable defending and last year I remember we had a five-setter.
“I knew coming into the match, that if I don’t serve well, which was the case, I am really going to have to grind and work for my points a lot and that’s what caused the two sets to be played over two hours.
“In the end not the kind of finish that the players or crowd want to see but it’s probably due to the physical battle we had in the opening two sets.
“Overall I have to be happy with the win and in important moments I managed to play one more ball over the net than him.”
Novak Djokovic faces tough test against Alexei Popyrin
Djokovic headed into the US Open in superb form, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion having added an Olympic gold medal to his honours list in Paris.
And he began his US Open title defence in fine fashion, overcoming Moldovan Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in round one.
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But he now faces his toughest test yet against another in-form player, with Popyrin winning the Canadian Open earlier this month.
With his victory over Andrey Rublev, he became the first Australian to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Lleyton Hewitt won the Indian Wells in 2003.
History does, however, favour the Serbian ahead of round three, with Djokovic boasting a three-zero head-to-head record over Popyrin.
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