Novak Djokovic got a stiffer test than expected Friday night, losing the first two sets before rallying to outlast fellow Serbian laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in a third-round match at the US Open.
Everyone should know by now to never count out Novak Djokovic. No matter how big a deficit he faces. No matter how poorly he might be playing.
And so it made sense that Djokovic would manage to come all the way back from a two-set deficit to beat Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in the third round of the US Open, avoiding what would have been his earliest exit there since 2006.
“Trust me,” Djokovic said, “it was nerve-racking all the way until the last shot.”
The match began under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night and did not wrap up until more than 3 1/2 hours later, concluding just after 1:30 a.m.
Djokovic advanced to the fourth round, where he’ll face Croatia’s Borna Gojo.
It was Djokovic’s eighth career victory after dropping the opening two sets of a match. Before Friday, Djokovic was 1-6 at the US Open when losing the first two sets, with the lone win coming against Roger Federer in the 2011 semifinal.
Once he seized control, he held on tight and never let Djere recover.
