Djokovic advances to third round after Djere retires injured
By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday after fellow Serb Laslo Djere retired injured while trailing 6-4 6-4 2-0.
Djokovic needed five sets to beat Djere in the third round a year ago and it looked as though Arthur Ashe Stadium would see another epic clash between the two as Djere went up a break in the second set.
But the unseeded Serb appeared to pick up an injury midway through the set and Djokovic went on to book a third-round meeting with Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Djokovic broke Djere to love in the 10th game of a tightly fought first set, benefiting from a series of unforced errors by his opponent.
Djere looked to have the momentum as he broke the second seed in the third game of the second set but things fell apart when he winced after a serve in the eighth game and Djokovic converted on a break point chance.
Djere took a medical timeout after the ninth game, lying on the court as a physio massaged his abdomen and lower back, before Djokovic broke him again in the 10th game.
Djere then retired minutes into the third set. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford )
