Larry Fine
NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic took a while to warm up against Andreas Haider-Maurer, but shifted into gear to race to a 6-4 6-1 6-2 win that closed Thursday’s play at the US Open.
World No 1 Djokovic, who lost only three games in his opening-round victory, led 5-4 in an indifferent first set that went with serve before suddenly snapping into focus.
Flicking winners off his forehand and burying backhands deep into corners, the Serb dropped only three more games as he sailed to victory and a place in the third round.
The reigning Australian and Wimbledon champion registered 27 winners and didn’t face a single break point in his demolition of Haider-Maurer.
Djokovic gave Haider-Maurer credit for bringing a blistering first serve. “I think he had an average serve of 130 miles per hour, so he came out firing from that shot in his game,” said the top seed.
“All in all, it was good to not stay too long on the court and get the job done in three sets,” added Djokovic, who had enough energy left to dance on court with an entertainer who amps up the crowd at Arthur Ashe during changeovers.
Djokovic is trying to claim his third Grand Slam singles title of the year and the 28-year-old couldn’t be blamed for thinking he is due for another US title to add to his 2011 win.
Four other times (2013, 2012, 2010, 2007) he has been runner-up at Flushing Meadows and reached the semi-finals three other times. “For one reason or another, I wasn’t able to make that final step too many times,” he said. “But looking at the results over the years, it has been one of the most consistent tournaments I’ve had.
“Whenever I come here, I know that conditions suit me, that I feel good on the court. I play very good tennis. I obviously try each year to get myself in a position to fight for the trophy.” Djokovic next plays Andreas Seppi.
Defending men’s champion Marin Cilic and two-time winner Rafa Nadal also advanced.
Meanwhile, the Serena Williams show continued as the World No 1 moved closer to a calendar Grand Slam, while Mardy Fish took a final Flushing Meadows bow as the curtain came down on his career.
Bidding to become just the fourth woman to win all four slams in the same year, Williams continued her quest with an error-strewn 7-6(5) 6-3 victory over Kiki Bertens.
Bertens put up a fight and had Williams, who struggled with her serve firing 10 double faults, on the ropes early on.
However, the 33-year-old’s class shone through in the second set as she broke Bertens three times to seal her 23rd consecutive US Open victory.
“I never stop. I keep going and give the best effort that I can,” she said after raising her 2015 match record to 50-2.
Williams was joined in the third round by sister Venus who outlasted Irina Falconi 6-3 6-7(2) 6-2 to set up an intriguing clash with Belinda Bencic, one of only two players to beat Serena this season.
After playing his opening match on an outside court, Cilic took his title defence back to a sweltering Arthur Ashe and looked right at home with a 6-2 6-3 7-5 win over qualifier Evgeny Donskoy.
During last year’s run, Cilic was invincible on the main court, sweeping past Tomas Berdych in the quarters, taking out Roger Federer in the semis and Kei Nishikori in a one-sided final.
“This court is very special for me, brings back special memories,” Cilic said. “It’s sort of unreal. I was working all my life to win a Grand Slam and now I’m in position to defend one.” – Reuters