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Novak Djokovic has competed in just two matches since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat.
US Open 2025
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September
Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website & app
Novak Djokovic acknowledges he is “trying to solve the riddle” and rediscover his peak form after mounting a comeback from a set down to defeat American qualifier Zachary Svajda in the US Open second round.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared uncharacteristically subdued in the initial stages of the match before ultimately prevailing with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 victory.
“I’m not pleased with my level of tennis, but, you know, you have days like this where you’re not playing at your best, but you just kind of find a way,” Djokovic stated.
“I’m just trying to solve the riddle once I’m on the court.”
The 38-year-old expressed his frustration with his performance as he pursues a record-breaking 25th major title.
“It’s not like I’m not finding joy on the court competing. I enjoy competing, but I don’t enjoy not playing well,” the Serb commented.
“That’s why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to be better the next day, the next match,” he added.
“It’s not a motivation thing. I kind of go through stuff internally. You don’t want to know the details of what I’m going through and telling myself.”
Djokovic has already achieved another milestone in New York, reaching the third round at a major for the 75th time, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record.
He is set to face Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the third round, whom he defeated at the French Open earlier this year.
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Competing in the morning session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, an unusual time for a player accustomed to headlining the tournament’s evening matches, Djokovic appeared unsettled in the bright sunlight.
The seventh seed displayed signs of fatigue in his first-round match and seemed affected by similar issues against Svajda.
The world number 145 gained attention before the match after posting a video expressing his excitement about facing Djokovic, but he showed no signs of intimidation, maintaining composure to win the first set.
However, Djokovic responded with characteristic resilience, winning 11 of the final 12 games as Svajda struggled with cramps.
Like Djokovic, last year’s runner-up Taylor Fritz also lost the first set but recovered to win 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 6-4 against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.
Fourth seed Fritz, the highest-ranked American in the men’s singles draw, will now face Jerome Kym after the Swiss qualifier defeated 30th seed Brandon Nakashima of the USA in a match lasting four hours and 20 minutes.
Twelfth seed Casper Ruud became the second-highest men’s seed to be eliminated, losing in five sets to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.
World number 107 Collignon, competing in his first Grand Slam main draw, rallied to win 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 against the 2022 US Open runner-up.
This loss concludes a disappointing year of Grand Slam results for Ruud, who also suffered a second-round defeat at the Australian and French Open and missed Wimbledon due to a knee injury.
Collignon will now face 20th seed Jiri Lehecka, who advanced with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Meanwhile, 21st seed Tomas Machac overcame rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca with a score of 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3.
The 19-year-old Fonseca, supported by a lively crowd on the Grandstand court, had a set point in the opening set, but Machac remained resolute to secure the win.
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