Everyone should know by now to never count out Novak Djokovic. No matter how big a deficit he faces. No matter how poorly he might be playing.
And so it made sense that Djokovic would come all the way back from a two-set deficit to beat Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in the third round of the US Open, avoiding what would have been his earliest exit there since 2006.
“Of course, winning a match is always better than losing a match. It’s as simple as that,” said Djokovic, who next faces Borna Gojo, a 25-year-old qualifier from Croatia making his US Open debut. “I think the message is sent to the rest of the field that I’m still able to play five sets deep at night, and coming from two sets down always sends a strong message to the future opponents.
“But at the same time, I’m not really wanting to be in this position, to be honest. I prefer a straight-set win. So hopefully I can get back on that track in the next match.”
This one began under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night and did not wrap up until more than 3½ hours later, concluding just after 1:30 a.m.
It was Djokovic’s eighth career victory after dropping the opening two sets of a match. Before Friday, Djokovic was 1-6 at the US Open when losing the first two sets, with the lone win coming against Roger Federer in the 2011 semifinal.
Once he seized control, Djokovic held on tight and never let Djere recover. In the crucible of a fifth set, Djokovic was cool as can be, collecting 12 of the initial 14 points to leave no doubt how this would go.
Djokovic, who improved to 38-11 in five-setters over his career, has won three of his men’s record 23 Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows and been the runner-up a half-dozen times, including in 2021. The 36-year-old from Serbia did not compete in the US Open last year because he couldn’t travel to the United States as a foreigner who is not vaccinated against COVID-19; that rule was lifted in May.
He is seeded No. 2 in New York behind Carlos Alcaraz, and pretty much everyone has been expecting the two of them to meet for the championship on Sept. 10. That appeared as if it might be derailed by Djere, a 28-year-old who is also from Serbia and was seeded 32nd.
“Trust me,” Djokovic said, “it was nerve-racking all the way until the last shot.”
This would have been…
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