Novak Djokovic faced a formidable challenge in his U.S. Open journey when fellow Serbian player Laslo Djere pushed him to the brink. Meanwhile, defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek had a much smoother sail into the fourth round of the final Grand Slam of the year, as a surge of American talent graced Flushing Meadows.
In a nail-biting showdown, Djokovic found himself on the ropes, trailing by two sets against compatriot Laslo Djere. However, displaying the trademark tenacity that has defined his career, Djokovic rallied back from the brink to secure a hard-fought 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
This remarkable win marked Djokovic’s 38th triumph in a five-setter and kept alive the 36-year-old’s pursuit of a fourth U.S. Open title. Such a victory would draw him level with Margaret Court’s remarkable record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Addressing the crowd, Djokovic humbly remarked, “I hope you enjoyed the show, it was not so enjoyable for me especially in the first two sets. It was one of the toughest matches I have played here in many years.”
In stark contrast, Iga Swiatek’s journey into the next round was a swift one, as she needed just 49 minutes to secure her place.
