NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic rocked back issues early in the game to beat Cam Nolly on Friday night, and at age 38, he became the oldest man to reach the fourth round in the US in 1991 as Jimmy Connors was the same age.
Djokovic pulled away to score 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 by hitting 18 aces for what he said was the best service performance of the tournament.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared at risk of matching his early exits at Flushing Meadows when doctors were needed near the end of the first set. However, he recovers to reach the final 16 of his 69th time, matching Roger Federer to date, and then faces German qualifier Jan Leonard Struff.
Seventh seed Djokovic did not reveal details of his injuries in an on-court interview after the match.
“I’m fine. I’m as young as ever, as strong as ever,” Djokovic said.
It was the 5-3 point of the first set that Djokovic awkwardly lifted the racket to reach the volley and immediately showed signs that everything was not going well. He tried to stretch his back between the points and barely ran to one ball Nolly hit towards the corner.
Djokovic then showed the chair umpire that he wanted a visit from the trainer and immediately walked to the locker room to grab his back on the bottom left, asking for a medical timeout. Djokovic immediately returned to court and served to take the opening set.
In the second set of the 2-1 switch, Djokovic received a back massage while sitting on the sideline and was also given pills by the doctor.
The third time this season in the Grand Slam tournament was blocked by Djokovic after being injured during a match and the second time had to be stopped. At the Australian Open in January, he tore his hamstrings and couldn’t continue after the semi-finals with Alexander Zverev.
At Wimbledon in July, Djokovic fine-tuned his awkward muscle muscles in his final match in the quarter-finals.
The US Open has since been Djokovic’s first tournament, and he has had some hardships in each of his first three matches.
“My team wants me to suffer on the court so I can get more games playing,” he jokingly said.
