Sluggish Djokovic continues shaking off rust at U.S. Open, comes back to beat Svajda
Novak Djokovic overcame a slow start in his second-round match at the U.S. Open, eventually defeating American qualifier Zachary Svajda in four sets. Despite dropping the opening set, Djokovic continued his dominance in New York, improving his record to 36-0 in the first and second rounds at Flushing Meadows.
Svajda, a 22-year-old from San Diego, put up a strong fight against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, surprising himself with a competitive first set. Djokovic, playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon, admitted to feeling less than great on the court, leading to some frustration during the match.
In his post-match press conference, Djokovic acknowledged his internal struggles but emphasized his commitment to improving and pushing himself to perform better. The Serbian star’s next opponent will be British player Cam Norrie, whom he has a flawless 6-0 record against.
In other U.S. Open action on Wednesday, there were notable wins for last year’s runners-up Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, as well as victories for Emma Navarro and Emma Raducanu. However, No. 5 seed Jack Draper was forced to withdraw due to a lingering arm injury, while Casper Ruud suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Raphael Collignon.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s matches, past champions Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff are set to take the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, along with No. 14 seed Tommy Paul. The excitement continues to build at the U.S. Open as the top players battle for a spot in the later rounds.
