Novak Djokovic Fights Past Cameron Norrie To Become Oldest Man To Reach Us Open Fourth Round Since 1991

At a clip erstwhile Novak Djokovic could really use from immoderate straightforward wins to easiness done nan early rounds of his last expansive slam tourney of nan year, thing has travel easy successful New York. But nether nan agleam lights connected Friday night, Djokovic held disconnected an awesome Cameron Norrie to scope nan 4th information of nan US Open pinch a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 triumph successful his champion capacity of nan tourney truthful far.

The triumph makes Djokovic, 38, nan oldest man to scope nan past 16 of nan US Open successful 34 years – since Jimmy Connors successful 1991. He besides ties Roger Federer for nan astir expansive slam 4th information appearances successful history pinch 69 appearances. “These benignant of matches and performances ever springiness maine dream that I tin spell far, situation nan champion players successful nan world,” Djokovic said.

Norrie faced an unenviable situation successful his first ever quality wrong Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic whitethorn beryllium susceptible successful New York fixed his six-week absence from nan circuit and immoderate tepid shape successful his earlier matches, but nan 24-time expansive slam champion has proven a nightmare match-up for Norrie complete nan Briton’s career. Djokovic had won each of their erstwhile six meetings, losing conscionable 2 sets.

For a while, Djokovic seemed to beryllium strolling to an effortless early triumph arsenic he collapsed service early connected and moved towards securing nan opening set, but astatine 5-3 nan Serb began to struggle pinch his activity and he many times stretched retired his little back. He swiftly called nan trainer, taking an off-court aesculapian clip retired astatine 5-4.

Djokovic during a aesculapian clip retired successful his lucifer against Norrie. Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters

“In position of really I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to beryllium honest,” Djokovic said. “It’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not capable to consciousness 100% ever for illustration I person for 20-plus years. But I conjecture nan circumstances are rather different and I person to get utilized to nan truth that each lucifer there’s thing that mightiness happen, arsenic it has been nan lawsuit this twelvemonth successful beautiful overmuch each slam.”

Although he returned to adjacent retired nan set, continuing his fantabulous early serving form, Djokovic did not look happy. His galore pauses yet led Norrie to speak pinch nan umpire astir his clip betwixt points. “I don’t deliberation it was a tactic, but I would person liked to spot nan umpire beryllium a spot much assertive. It changed thing for nan match,” Norrie said.

“Just 3 aliases 4 times I had to hold for him connected my serve, and partially I deliberation possibly he was benignant of stretching … But it was thing to do pinch Novak. I was conscionable asking nan umpire what’s nan norm each clip I person to hold for him. No, it was not really thing there.”

Cameron Norrie played pinch situation nether nan lights connected Friday night. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

Through those disruptions, Norrie tried difficult to put nan Serb nether pressure. He played acold much violative tennis than accustomed and arsenic a consequence of his courageousness he put together his champion agelong of tennis against Djokovic, forcing a tie-break and performing powerfully nether unit to level nan match. Norrie’s forehand, often underpowered against nan champion players, was spectacular successful nan mediate of nan match.

Faced pinch a genuine challenge, Djokovic responded solidly. His serving was ultimate successful nan last sets, ending pinch 18 aces, and he smothered Norrie’s crippled pinch relentless extent while dictating play. It was a value lucifer from some players, allowing Djokovic to caput into nan 2nd week hopeful that he is uncovering his hit and form.

Norrie, meanwhile, leaves New York having continued his fantabulous shape passim this summertime arsenic he attempts to re-establish himself among nan champion players successful nan world.

“I deliberation ever erstwhile I play these apical players for illustration Rafa successful nan past aliases Novak, I consciousness it’s for illustration a different benignant of level, playing against them and I ever play so, truthful good consecutive aft these tournaments, evidently you’re getting a batch of reps in,” Norrie said.

“To play against these apical guys and to spot what they tin bring constituent successful and constituent out, it’s decidedly a different level. So I tin return a batch of assurance successful this, arsenic well, for sure.”