NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic got rid of a defender issue early in the game and beat Cam Norrie on Friday night, while at 38, the oldest person entered the fourth round of the U.S. Open since Jimmy Connors was the same age in 1991.
Djokovic won 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3, and he said he had the best performance in the game, which was his help.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion seemed in danger when his earliest exit was on Flushing Meadow when he needed medical care at the end of the first set. But he returned to the final 16 of the major for the 69th time, matching Roger Federer and will face the German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff next.
After the game, he would not disclose details of his injury in an interview in court.
“I’m fine. I’m young as always and as strong as ever,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic awkwardly lifted his racket to the volley and immediately showed signs of something bad. He began to try to stretch his back between points, barely running out a ball that Norrie hits towards a corner.
Afterwards, Djokovic showed the presidential referee that he wanted to visit from the trainer and soon walked to the locker room for medical timeouts, clinging to his lower left. Djokovic quickly returned to the court and held his opening remarks.
During the second set of 2-1 conversion, Djokovic took a return massage while sitting on the sidelines and was given by the doctor.
This is the third time this season to compete in the Grand Slam Championship, with Djokovic being hampered after being injured in the game. He tore his hamstrings at the Australian Open in January and couldn’t continue after the semi-finals against Alexander Zverev.
In Wimbledon in July, Djokovic fell into an awkward fall in the final game of the quarter-final victory, adjusting his groin muscles, and when he stayed in the brackets there, he was clearly compromised against final champion Jannik Sinner.
The U.S. Open has been Djokovic’s first game since then, and he has struggled a bit in each of the first three games.
He joked: “My team wants me to suffer on the court so I can get more game time.”
