NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic shook off a again downside early within the match to beat Cam Norrie on Friday evening, and at 38, he grew to become the oldest man to succeed in the fourth spherical of the US Open since Jimmy Connors was the identical age in 1991.
Djokovic pulled away to win 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3, helped by hitting 18 aces in what he stated was his finest serving efficiency of the event.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared in jeopardy of matching his earliest exit in Flushing Meadows when he wanted medical consideration close to the top of the primary set. However he recovered to succeed in the final 16 of a serious for the 69th time, matching Roger Federer for many ever, and can subsequent face German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.
The No. 7-seeded Djokovic wouldn’t reveal specifics of his damage in his on-court interview after the match.
“I’m good. I’m as younger as ever and as sturdy as ever,” Djokovic stated.
It was throughout a degree at 5-3 within the first set that Djokovic raised his racket awkwardly to succeed in a volley and instantly confirmed indicators that every one was not effectively. He tried to stretch his again between factors and barely ran for one ball that Norrie hit towards a nook.
After that, Djokovic indicated to the chair umpire that he wished a go to from a coach, and shortly was strolling to the locker room for a medical timeout, clutching at his decrease left again. Djokovic returned to the courtroom quickly and held serve to take the opening set.
On the changeover at 2-1 within the second set, Djokovic received a again therapeutic massage whereas seated on the sideline and likewise was given capsules by a physician.
It’s the third time at a Grand Slam event this season that Djokovic has been hampered after getting harm throughout a match — and the second time he needed to cease. On the Australian Open in January, he tore a hamstring and couldn’t proceed after one set of his semifinal towards Alexander Zverev.
At Wimbledon in July, Djokovic took an ungainly fall within the final recreation of his quarterfinal victory, tweaking his groin muscle, and although he stayed within the bracket there, he was clearly compromised throughout a semifinal loss towards eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
The US Open was Djokovic’s first event since then and he has had some struggles in every of his first three matches.
“My staff needs me to undergo on the courtroom so I can get extra minutes of match play,” he stated jokingly.
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