Novak Djokovic (37) is set to continue his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title on Wednesday as he faces fellow Serbian, Laslo Djere (29), in the second round of the US Open.
The four-time US Open champion is determined to find his rhythm on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows after his successful run at Roland Garros, where he secured Olympic gold.
In his first-round match, Djokovic defeated qualifier Radu Albot, a victory that signaled his readiness for the challenges ahead. However, Djokovic remains cautious, recalling his previous encounter with Djere, who managed to take the first two sets before Djokovic ultimately secured a third-round win last year.
Reflecting on that match, Djokovic said, “I remember very well our match. It was a very tough match. I’m going to try to analyze that and hopefully do some things even better than I did last year.” Djokovic also expressed his admiration for Djere, who recently overcame a significant challenge by winning a five-set match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff after recovering from elbow surgery in April.
“It’s a great win for him because he’s been struggling a bit after his surgery to get to the desired level,” Djokovic noted. “It’s great for Serbian tennis, obviously, that two Serbian players are facing each other. It’s a guaranteed third round for one of the Serbian guys. Hopefully, it’s going to be me, but Djere is a guy that really likes playing on a big stage.”
NYC. Time for another blockbuster. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8rtNUeTGjq
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 26, 2024
Djokovic acknowledged Djere’s strong game, saying, “He has a very flat backhand, particularly a very good serve, great return, and he’s physically as fit as anybody.”
Coco Gauff faces Tatjana Maria
In the women’s draw, defending champion Coco Gauff (20) will take on veteran Tatjana Maria (37) in the second round. Gauff, the third seed, is heavily favored against the German, who is ranked 99th in the world and reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2022. The two have met only once before, with Gauff winning en route to claiming the 2023 WTA Auckland title.
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Gauff is eager to defend her US Open title after a convincing first-round win over Varvara Gracheva. “Even-keeled,” Gauff said of her approach. “Just focusing on the match in front of me and not looking too far ahead or too far behind.”
"Whether it's 2024 or not, I will do it again" 🫳🎤
Coco Gauff is setting her sights on a second US Open crown. pic.twitter.com/dmAY0EmCtD
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Meanwhile, California’s 16-year-old Iva Jovic is set to continue her impressive debut Grand Slam performance when she faces Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round. Jovic stunned the tennis world by defeating 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette in the first round, marking a perfect start to her first major tournament and her debut in a tour-level main draw.
Jovic earned her spot in the US Open with a wildcard after winning the national under-18 title. Reflecting on her success, Jovic said, “Surprised, but not surprised. I had a plan about what I was going to do before I started, and there wasn’t any need for crazy adjustments because it was going well.”
