Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Laslo Djere of Serbia during a second round match at the US Open Tennis Championships on August 28, 2024. | Photo credit: AP
Defending champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) recorded his 90th win at the US Open when he defeated Serbian compatriot Laslo Djere, who retired in the third set of the second-round match.
Djokovic, a four-time champion in the tournament and seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title, was leading 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere ended the match.
The player, ranked 109 in the world, pushed his compatriot to five sets in New York last year, and had to take a medical time-out to treat an injury after losing the second set.
Djokovic, 37, needed to see a trainer because of a side strain after winning the first set.
World number two Djokovic is now the only man to win 90 matches at all four Grand Slams.
“When someone retires, that’s not what we want to see. Laslo had an injury that took him off the tour for a while and now he’s trying to make a comeback,” Djokovic said.
“He is a very good player in these conditions and the second set should have been his, he was 4-2 ahead.
“I don’t know if me winning the second set would maybe put more of a burden on them.”
Djokovic will next face Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, whom he defeated at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.