Novak Djokovic pulled off a remarkable and thrilling comeback in the third round of the US Open, defeating fellow Serbian player Laslo Djere in a hard-fought five-set match. Despite losing the first two sets, Djokovic displayed immense determination and resilience to rally back and secure a 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
The match concluded close to 2am, but the crowd remained captivated, witnessing Djokovic's eighth comeback from a two-set deficit in a Grand Slam, as reported by the ATP Tour. This win keeps Djokovic's dream of clinching a record 24th Grand Slam title alive, as he aims to equal Margaret Court's record and extend his own record in the men's game.
Acknowledging the spectators, Djokovic expressed his relief at overcoming the formidable challenge Djere posed. He appreciated Djere's exceptional performance, acknowledging it as some of the best tennis he has seen from his compatriot. According to the ATP Tour, Djokovic stated, "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. Huge credit to Laslo for playing some of the best tennis that I’ve ever seen him play."
Djokovic found himself unable to break Djere's impenetrable serve in the first two sets, despite his reputation as one of the game's best returners. The 32nd seed held every service game and demonstrated impressive accuracy, winning 18 out of 20 first serve points in the second set, as reported by the US Open.
Nonetheless, Djokovic showcased his trademark tenacity and skill, mounting an extraordinary comeback. He achieved his first break of Djere's serve in the opening game of the third set, breaking a streak of untouchable serves. The breakthrough came after Djokovic gave himself a motivational talk in the mirror during the break following the first two sets. According to Reuters, Djokovic mentioned, "I had to force myself to lift myself up, lift the spirits up a little bit. I’ve done it a few times before in my career, it worked. A few times it didn’t work, but tonight it did and I’m grateful."
Following that pivotal moment, Djokovic appeared to regain control of the match, even as Djere pushed back, nearly breaking in the third game of the fourth set. Nevertheless, Djokovic held firm and displayed his champion mentality to ultimately secure a hard-fought victory.
In the next round, Djokovic will face Borna Gojo, a Croatian qualifier, as he continues his quest for glory at the US Open.