Reigning US Open champion Novak Djokovic earned another slice of Grand Slam history as he progressed to round three at Flushing Meadows thanks to Laslo Djere's retirement.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner was 6-4 6-4 2-0 up against his fellow Serbian when Djere called it quits after two hours and 16 minutes, thereby handing Djokovic his 90th singles win at the US Open.
The 37-year-old has therefore now become the first man to triumph in 90 singles matches at every major tournament, having registered 97 Wimbledon victories, 96 French Open triumphs and 94 Australian Open successes.
However, Djokovic's quest for US Open win number 90 was not aided by his self-described "awful" serving, having only posted three aces in comparison to eight double faults, although he only allowed Djere one break from a possible eight opportunities.
"He's such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should have been his second set, honestly. He was up 4-2. It was a big fight, over two hours for two sets," the defending champion told the media.
© Imago
Coco Gauff posts another bagel en route to victory
"I served awful. Without a serve, you have to grind, you have to run. I had to rely on my baseline game. The matches are only going to get tougher from here. But I'll be fine. I'll find my way as I have many times in my career."
As well as Djokovic, women's holder Coco Gauff also steamrolled her way past German veteran Tatjana Maria en route to round two, posting her second bagel in as many matches in a 6-4 6-0 success.
After dropping just two games in her first-round success over Varvara Gracheva, the home favourite needed just one hour and 20 minutes to eliminate Maria, making up for nine double faults with 25 winners and a 63% break-point conversion percentage.
Aryna Sabalenka, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Casper Ruud also came through their second-round battles, but Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova suffered a premature exit at the hands of Elena-Gabriela Ruse 4-6 5-7.
Also heading home early is Great Britain's Harriet Dart, who was left to lament a surfeit of missed opportunities in a mammoth first-set tie-breaker with Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, who came through 6-7[10] 1-6.
The winning moment for Marta Kostyuk which sees Harriet Dart out of the US Open 🏙 pic.twitter.com/gQD7rRKprI
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) August 28, 2024
The 28-year-old had five chances to wrap up the first set against the 19th seed, but was unable to convert any of them and was blown away in the second set, while also double-faulting 10 times over the course of the match.
What is on today at the US Open?
The top seeds are back in action on Thursday, as Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek step out onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court for their respective battles with Alex Michelsen and Ena Shibahara.
Once those battles are done and dusted, the evening session at Arthur Ashe sees Naomi Osaka pit her wits against Karolina Muchova in another tantalising battle, while Carlos Alcaraz battles Botic van de Zandschulp.
The remaining three Britons in the singles events will endeavour to reach round three too, as Katie Boulter faces Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Jack Draper takes on Facundo Diaz Acosta and Dan Evans squares up to Mariano Navone.
Ben Knapton
