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Djokovic fights back from two sets down to reach US Open final 16
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AFP / Corey Sipkin
A tenacious Novak Djokovic survived a US Open late-night fright, battling back from two sets down to tame fellow Serb Laslo Djere with 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to move into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
On the ropes and reeling Djokovic, as he has done many times before, he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in front of a record crowd inside a breathless Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
It marked the 38th time Djokovic has won a five-setter and kept alive the 36-year-old’s quest for a fourth U.S. Open crown that would pull him level with Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 Grand Slams.
“I hope you enjoyed the show, it was not so enjoyable for me, especially in the first two sets,” Djokovic told the crowd. “It was one of the toughest matches I have played here in many years.”
Djokovic had looked imperious in his opening two matches, surrendering only 11 games in blowout wins over Frenchman Alexandre Muller and Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles, but his 32nd-seeded countryman proved a far tougher test.
The two Serbs had only clashed once before that, in Belgrade last year, but there were signs then that Djere was a danger, with the contest needing three sets and two tie-breaks before Djokovic claimed the win.
Djere signalled to Djokovic he was in for more of the same on Friday when he broke the second-seed to start the match and then held his nerve the rest of the set for an unexpected and well-earned 1-0 lead.
Facing one of the greatest players of all time under the bright lights of tennis’s biggest stage, a fearless Djere could not be rattled, piling on the pressure with another break to go up 4-3 in the second on the way to a 2-0 lead that left Arthur Ashe Stadium stunned.
Djokovic was not without his opportunities but did not capitalise on his chances until backed into a corner.
With the crowd still buzzing, Djokovic came out for the third set with an urgency and energy missing in the opening two sets, breaking Djere at the first opportunity and again to go up 4-0 on the way to cutting the deficit to 2-1.
“I did a little pep talk in the mirror,” said Djokovic about his bathroom break after the second set. “I kind of laughed at myself because I was agitated and annoyed with the result, I had to kind of force myself to lift myself, to lift the spirits up.”
With cracks in Djere’s game starting to appear, Djokovic continued to dial up the pressure breaking again to open the fourth set pulling a mighty fist pump from the 36-year-old.
But Djere was not done immediately breaking back, setting the stage for what was a marathon third game that saw Djokovic regain control with yet another break.
Moving in for the kill Djokovic swept the next six games to take the fourth set and a 2-0 lead in the decisive fifth that he would never surrender.
“Once I got the break in the third, I thought ‘OK, I have a shot, I have a chance,” said Djokovic. “I might as well go after it.”
“I started to play a bit more aggressively and read his games slightly more than I had in the first two sets, and it worked well.
“But trust me, it was nerve-wracking all the way till the last shot,” he added.
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DP World ILT20 Season 4 shatters records with 397 million viewers and 2.5 billion video views
Travellers arriving at Dubai International Airport are being greeted with a unique souvenir, a special stamp on their passports celebrating the Dubai World Cup 2026.
The initiative, launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), marks the 30th edition (Pearl Jubilee) of one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events.
A grand sporting celebration
The iconic Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday, March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, drawing global attention from racing fans and elite stables.
This year’s event promises high-stakes action:
- 100 horses from top international stables
- Nine races across the evening
- Total prize pool of $30.5 million
Spotlight on the main race
The highlight of the night is the $12 million Dubai World Cup race, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Run over 2,000 metres on dirt, the Group 1 race will feature some of the world’s top thoroughbreds, including:
- “Hit Show” – last year’s winner
- “Forever Young” – UAE Derby and Saudi Cup champion
- “Imperial Emperor”
- “Meidan” – Super Saturday winner
A memorable arrival experience
The commemorative passport stamp adds a celebratory touch for visitors landing in Dubai, tying their arrival to one of the city’s biggest sporting spectacles.
With excitement building ahead of race day, Dubai is once again showcasing its ability to blend world-class sport with unique visitor experiences.
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