NEW YORK – Novak Jjokovic overcame a slow start to beat Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday, remaining unbeaten in his first two rounds of the US Open career.
Djokovic, who played his first opening match of a day session at Arthur Ashe Stadium since 2014, improved to 54-45 in the majors after losing the opening set.
Djokovic appeared to be physically labour early in the match. However, after falling 3-1 in the third set, he finally began to look like a player who won a men’s record 24 grand slam title, including the four of New York.
No. 7 seed Djokovic opened a 3-0 lead in four sets in the next eight matches against American qualifiers, eventually closing just 26 minutes after the first set took an hour.
“I wasn’t very happy with tennis in the first part of the match,” Djokovic said, giving credit to an opponent who was clearly suffering from injuries in the second half of the match.
Entering Wednesday, Svajda won 17 of his last 19 matches at all levels, including qualifying, calling trainers multiple times during the switch, appearing to suffer from convulsions.
“Praise for him staying on the court,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic’s 191st career match was a win in the hard court majors, tied Roger Federer, the second-longest after Serena Williams’ 200.
Djokovic, 38, reached the third round in all 19 appearances in New York, almost ties Federer into the open era.
He then faces either Cameron Nolly, where Djokovic is 6-0, or Francisco Kamena, whom he doesn’t play.
No in the results of the second round of other men’s singles. Giri Lehecca of 20 beat Thomas Martin Etcherlie 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-4. And then, Czech 21st seed Thomas Machuk has passed the Brazilian 19-year-old feeling, Joa Fonseca 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-3.
ESPN research and Associated Press contributed to this report.
