US Open: Djokovic advances to third round as Djere retires
What's the story
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has advanced to the third round of the US Open 2024, following an unfortunate injury that forced his opponent, Laslo Djere, to retire.
The match took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.
Despite battling intense heat and humidity, both players demonstrated remarkable resilience during their second-round encounter.
Match details
Djokovic overcomes heat and humidity to secure victory
Djokovic, aged 37, emerged victorious in the first two sets with identical scores of 6-4.
However, the match was not without its challenges as both players struggled with the sweltering conditions.
Djokovic was seen receiving an abdominal massage from a trainer after the first set and used ice packs along with a cooling air tube to combat the humidity.
Injury impact
Djere's injury forces early retirement from match
Djere also faced similar struggles with the heat, requiring assistance from his trainers.
His performance was further hampered by an injury during the eighth game of the second set, which led to a medical timeout.
Despite his best efforts, Djere was unable to continue and conceded the match midway through the third set due to his worsening condition.
Upcoming match
Djokovic to face Popyrin in third round
Djokovic's victory over Djere has set the stage for a third-round clash against Australia's Alexei Popyrin, who is seeded 28th.
Prior to his match with Djere, Djokovic was aiming for a strong start in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at this year's US Open.
He kick-started his campaign by defeating Radu Albot in straight sets.
Notably, Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 final to claim his fourth US Open title.