Cameron Norrie Battles Past Comesaña At Us Open To Set Up Djokovic Clash

Cameron Norrie continued his good expansive slam shape by holding his nervus astatine nan extremity of a bruising conflict pinch Francisco Comesaña to triumph 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (0) 7-6 (4) and group up a third-round lucifer pinch Novak Djokovic.

Norrie, who reached nan 4th information of nan French Open and quarter-finals astatine Wimbledon this year, had looked good connected his measurement to triumph arsenic he established a two-set lead. However, arsenic he edged adjacent to victory, his nerves progressively came to nan surface. After establishing a 4-1 lead pinch a double break successful nan last group and past serving for nan lucifer astatine 5-4, Norrie recovered himself down group constituent astatine 5-6. As Comesaña lasered a backhand down nan line, Norrie thought he had been forced to a 5th group and he began stepping to his chair but nan umpire confirmed nan changeable had landed out.

Having been fixed a 2nd chance, Norrie held service to unit a tie-break and past he closed retired nan lucifer pinch courageous play. Norrie had toiled for astir each constituent passim nan match, but arsenic nan lucifer hung successful nan equilibrium he closed retired nan lucifer pinch 2 unreturned first serves.

Djokovic said he is ­hopeful that his shape will amended pinch much matches astatine nan US Open aft he struggled early connected against an ­inexperienced American challenger earlier recovering to scope nan 3rd information successful New York pinch a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 triumph complete Zachary Svajda.

Three days aft Djokovic’s difficult opening match, wherever he had galore beingness problems successful an attritional tussle pinch Learner Tien, Djokovic was still searching for his shape arsenic he trailed by a group against Svajda. Although nan Serb gradually recovered his way, he was besides aided by nan 22-year-old’s beingness difficulties arsenic he struggled pinch a near limb problem successful nan 2nd half of nan match.

Despite facing nan top subordinate of each clip successful nan biggest stadium successful nan sport, Svajda performed pinch courageousness early on, outplaying Djokovic from nan baseline earlier closing retired a tense opening group pinch a searing down-the-line backhand. But Djokovic gradually worked his measurement backmost into nan lucifer pinch businesslike serving and cardinal forays to nan net.

Svajda began to struggle pinch his near leg, often grabbing astatine it arsenic his activity deteriorated. Despite his difficulties he led by a break astatine 3-1 successful nan 3rd group pursuing a mediocre work crippled from Djokovic, but nan Serb quickly recovered, rolling done 11 of nan adjacent 13 games to return the match.

Afterwards, Djokovic said frankly astir his problems connected nan court: “I didn’t consciousness that awesome to beryllium honest. I wasn’t happy pinch my tennis for nan first portion of nan match, but besides in installments to Zach for playing immoderate really high-quality tennis.

“It was unfortunate that he struggled pinch wounded towards nan extremity of nan 2nd set, but kudos to him for staying connected nan court. It was evident he couldn’t service arsenic good arsenic he did for a group and a half. I wished him each nan champion astatine nan nett because I deliberation he’s playing really well.”

Novak Djokovic plays his ‘violin’ ceremony aft beating Zachary Svajda Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

The US Open marks Djokovic’s first appearance successful immoderate title since Wimbledon owing to nan 38-year-old opting to prioritise his family life complete competing successful nan lengthy two-week Masters 1000 events successful Toronto and Cincinnati. Djokovic said he is hoping his level will gradually amended pinch much matches, victories and clip connected tribunal astatine nan tournament.

“That was nan lawsuit for astir of my expansive slam career. The deeper I spell successful nan tournament, nan amended I consciousness astir my game,” said Djokovic. “It’s evidently a small different successful nan past mates of years for maine bodywise, I get deterioration and tear quicker than I ever used to truthful I person to woody pinch that; a batch of betterment worldly to effort to make myself capable to execute astatine nan highest level.”

Djokovic was followed astatine Arthur Ashe Stadium by Jessica Pegula, nan 4th seed and past year’s finalist, who eased into nan 3rd information pinch a objective 6-1, 6-3 triumph complete Anna Blinkova.