Djokovic reaches third round as Djere retires

Novak Djokovic reached to the third round when his countryman Laslo Djere retired due to injury early in the third set on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Serbian and second seed at the US Open this year, led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 before the retirement of his compatriots under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover,” Djokovic said. “But he obviously had an injury that took him out of the Tour for some time and he is struggling to come back physically to this level. He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should’ve been his second set, honestly. It was 4-2, 15/40.

“Overall, it was a big fight. Over two hours for two sets. I served awful. So playing without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run. So I guess I had to rely on my baseline game.”

Djokovic became the first male player to record 90 wins at all four majors. He is eight victories shy of tying Jimmy Connors for most US Open match wins.

The defending champion will next play Alexei Popyrin for a spot in the fourth round on Friday.

Other action on Wednesday saw, Ben Shelton made it six sets played, six sets won at this year’s US Open when he dispatched Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round.

Shelton will next play countryman Frances Tiafoe. The 13th seed overcame Tiafoe in the quarter-finals last year to reach his first major semi-final at the US Open.

Former semi-finalist Tiafoe advanced to the third round after Alexander Shevchenko was forced to retire. American Tiafoe led Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 when play was stopped on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Chinese star Shang Juncheng reached the third round at a major for the second time when he overcame Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(2).

Shang will next play Casper Ruud in New York. The Norwegian defeated Gael Monfils 6-4,6-2,2-6,7-6.

Brandon Nakashima continued his impressive form by dispatching Frenchman Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion defeated Holger Rune in the first round and also reached the third round in Montreal and Cincinnati earlier this month.