Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Swiss legend Roger Federer won their respective second-round matches to progress to the next round in the men’s singles event of the ongoing US Open.
In the second-round encounter played at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday evening, three-time champion Djokovic fought off a valiant effort from Juan Ignacio Londero to notch a 6-4, 7-6, 6-1 victory that was anything but easy.
“I want to congratulate Londero for showing a great fighting spirit and playing some great tennis tonight,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by atptour.com on court after the match. “It’s a straight-sets win, but it was definitely a very difficult match to play. A lot of rallies, especially in the first couple of sets.”
Djokovic awaits the winner between fellow serb Dusan Lajovic and American Denis Kudla.
In the other match, third seed Federer shook off a slow start and clawed back from one set down to notch up a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory against Damir Dzumhur from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Swiss, competing in his 100th US Open match, was once again made to work hard, having also dropped the opening set in his first-round clash on Monday against Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal.
“I have been in that position many times where you go through a little phase where you don’t start so well… When it happens like this back-to-back matches, it’s just a bit frustrating more than anything, especially when the level is that low and there is that many errors and the energy is not kind of there,” Federer was quoted as saying by atptour.com.
Next up for the third seed is No. 25 seed Lucas Pouille of France or Daniel Evans of Britain. Federer is 2-0 against both men in their respective head-to-head records and hasn’t dropped a set to either player.
(With inputs from IANS)