NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic rocked again points early within the recreation to beat Cam Nolly on Friday night time, and at age 38, he turned the oldest man to succeed in the fourth spherical within the US in 1991 as Jimmy Connors was the identical age.
Djokovic pulled away to attain 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 by hitting 18 aces for what he mentioned was the most effective service efficiency of the match.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared vulnerable to matching his early exits at Flushing Meadows when medical doctors have been wanted close to the tip of the primary set. Nonetheless, he recovers to succeed in the ultimate 16 of his 69th time, matching Roger Federer thus far, after which faces German qualifier Jan Leonard Struff.
Seventh seed Djokovic didn’t reveal particulars of his accidents in an on-court interview after the match.
“I am nice. I am as younger as ever, as sturdy as ever,” Djokovic mentioned.
It was the 5-3 level of the primary set that Djokovic awkwardly lifted the racket to succeed in the volley and instantly confirmed indicators that every part was not going properly. He tried to stretch his again between the factors and barely ran to at least one ball Nolly hit in direction of the nook.
Djokovic then confirmed the chair umpire that he wished a go to from the coach and instantly walked to the locker room to seize his again on the underside left, asking for a medical timeout. Djokovic instantly returned to courtroom and served to take the opening set.
Within the second set of the 2-1 swap, Djokovic obtained a again therapeutic massage whereas sitting on the sideline and was additionally given capsules by the physician.
The third time this season within the Grand Slam match was blocked by Djokovic after being injured throughout a match and the second time needed to be stopped. On the Australian Open in January, he tore his hamstrings and could not proceed after the semi-finals with Alexander Zverev.
At Wimbledon in July, Djokovic fine-tuned his awkward muscle muscular tissues in his remaining match within the quarter-finals.
The US Open has since been Djokovic’s first match, and he has had some hardships in every of his first three matches.
“My staff needs me to undergo on the courtroom so I can get extra video games enjoying,” he jokingly mentioned.
