NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic was cruising with a giant early lead in his US Open four-round match on Sunday evening when his neck started to plague him. That did not cease Djokovic from dominating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, who’re 144th within the 144th rank.
“What has given me a lot encouragement now’s the best way I performed tonight,” Djokovic mentioned. “The perfect efficiency of the match up to now. Hopefully we are able to proceed with that.”
Djokovic was forward at 15 years outdated 4-0 when he hit the high-angle volley winner to boost 30 love in that recreation. The 24-time Grand Slam champion rapidly grabbed the again of his neck and started to show his head.
Djokovic, 38, continued to attempt to stretch his neck and bend his proper shoulder between factors, and he continued to drop that recreation and the following one. Nevertheless, he rapidly regained the sting over Straff, who was making an attempt to succeed in the principle quarterfinals for the primary time, beating Frances Tierfoe within the earlier spherical.
After enhancing to 8-0 towards Struff, Jjokovic holds a 10-0 head-to-head file in his quarter ultimate on Tuesday towards 2024 US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz.
“I hope that gamers who’ve by no means beat me will come on the court docket and take a look at one thing totally different and really feel in all probability uncomfortable and be extra aggressive or try to play something,” Djokovic mentioned. “I do not suppose there is a huge change in Taylor as a result of clearly you are caught with one thing like a recreation plan that takes you to your quarters and know what your strengths are.
Bracket’s final American man, No. 4 seed Fritz, moved to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Czech Republic’s twenty first Thomas Machuk.
“I feel the issue has expanded over time. I performed him the primary seven or eight occasions. I in all probability would not be sufficient participant to have that many alternatives except I had the very best day I’ve ever had and he had a foul day,” Fritz mentioned. “I feel it was simply the previous few occasions we have performed. I feel I used to be this nice participant who may compete and say he has an opportunity.”
After Jjokovic completed its opening set towards Struff, he was visited by the coach for therapy in the course of the subsequent change. Djokovic was given a therapeutic massage on his neck and shoulders.
If he was nonetheless uncomfortable, his play was not affected in any respect. Throughout the break after that set, Djokovic massaged his proper forearm. However once more, when the ball was enjoying there have been no indicators of bother.
Djokovic additionally had his trainers tackle him within the first half of the match. This included blisters with ft loaded within the first spherical and a 3rd decrease quantity.
He received 4 championships in New York, most lately in 2023.
