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Novak Djokovic avoided a huge shock as he recovered from a two-set deficit to beat fellow Serb Laslo Djere and reach the US Open fourth round.<\/p>\n
Djokovic, 36, maintained his bid for a record-equalling 24th major title with a 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-3 win in New York.<\/p>\n
It is the eighth time in Djokovic\u2019s career he has fought back from two sets down to win.<\/p>\n
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On how a break after the second set helped his comeback, he said: \u201cI did a pep talk in the mirror. It worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI laughed at myself because I was so agitated and annoyed with the game. I had to force myself to lift my spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three-time US Open champion Djokovic, who is aiming to move level with Australian Margaret Court\u2019s tally of major wins, will play Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo in the last 16.<\/p>\n
Gojo, ranked 105th in the world, continued his remarkable run at Flushing Meadows with a 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over Czech Jiri Vesely.<\/p>\n
How Djokovic came through \u2018one of toughest US Open matches\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Djokovic will be the overwhelming favourite to beat 25-year-old Gojo when they meet on Sunday but showed he can still be vulnerable with a poor start against 32nd seed Djere.<\/p>\n However, he also showed all of the tenacity and powers of recovery which have made him arguably the greatest player of all time.<\/p>\n Seeded second behind Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz in New York, Djokovic was considered as the joint-favourite for the title even before his half of the draw further opened up\u00a0after a number of top seeds were knocked out.<\/p>\n Djere has played some of the best tennis of his career this year, but few would have predicted he would threaten an upset against his compatriot.<\/p>\n He made the perfect start by breaking Djokovic\u2019s serve in the first game of the match and continued to take advantage of his opponent looking off the pace.<\/p>\n Using the drop shot to good effect, Djere maintained his lead in the opening set and a single break in the second made the implausible look more possible.<\/p>\n Against someone of Djokovic\u2019s calibre, there was still a long way to go, however.<\/p>\n The contest pivoted when Djokovic broke his opponent\u2019s serve at the start of the third set, hanging on in a 26-shot rally on break point and gaining the advantage when Djere hit a return into the net.<\/p>\n Djokovic, who will return to the top of the world rankings after the US Open whatever happens, raced through the set and further upped the intensity in the fourth.<\/p>\n The set started with three successive breaks of serve before Djokovic, putting his opponent under severe pressure by returning balls few others could, rattled off the next four games against a wearier-looking Djere.<\/p>\n When Djokovic moved 3-0 in front in the decider, it looked like the match would quickly be over.<\/p>\n Djere, though, refused to be steamrollered. Djokovic had to save a break point at 5-3, then hit a match point into the net after a tense baseline exchange, before taking his second chance to clinch victory at 01:32 local time.<\/p>\n After clapping Djere out of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic said: \u201cIt was one of the toughest matches I\u2019ve played here in many years.<\/p>\n \u201cHuge, huge credit to Laslo for playing some of the best tennis I\u2019ve ever seen him play.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Stoked\u2019 home crowds celebrate wins for US men<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben Shelton is making his second appearance at the US Open<\/em><\/p>\n Elsewhere, American quartet Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton kept alive the nation\u2019s hopes of a first home men\u2019s singles champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.<\/p>\n Tiafoe, seeded 10th, is into the fourth round for the fourth successive year after overcoming a slow start to beat France\u2019s Adrian Mannarino 4-6 6-2 6-3 7-6 (8-6).<\/p>\n American men\u2019s number one Fritz, 25, needed only an hour and 30 minutes to win 6-1 6-2 6-0 against Jakub Mensik \u2013 on the Czech teenager\u2019s 18th birthday \u2013 to record his best run.<\/p>\n Paul, who won 6-1 6-0 3-6 6-3 against Spain\u2019s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, will play compatriot Shelton in the last 16 after he beat Russian Aslan Karatsev 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-0.<\/p>\n Rising star Shelton hit 26 aces, including one 147mph serve \u2013 the fastest of the tournament so far.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the best tournament for Americans to play in,\u201d said 26-year-old Paul, who reached the last 16 for the first time.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously around the grounds everyone is really stoked and excited about the Americans.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time I pass one of the TVs here it\u2019s like \u2018is an American gonna win a (singles) slam for the first time in 20 years?’\u201d<\/p>\n World number 10 Frances Tiafoe has only reached the fourth round twice at the other three Grand Slams<\/em><\/p>\n Last year Tiafoe achieved his best Grand Slam result to date when he reached the last four, where he lost to Alcaraz in five sets.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old said he is motivated by Arthur Ashe, the 1968 champion who Flushing Meadows\u2019 main court is named after.<\/p>\n Ashe remains the only black man to win the US Open, Australia Open or Wimbledon singles titles.<\/p>\n \u201cI have always watched this tournament as a kid and wanted to play out here and in the biggest stages,\u201d Tiafoe said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is so much history here. Obviously, Arthur Ashe \u2013 what a legend. I just want my name in the same sentence as his. That is why I play my best tennis here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/_130967506_gettyimages-1653393832.jpg\")
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