Djokovic overcomes blip to beat Sandgren at U.S. Open
Aug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits to Tennys Sandgren of the United States in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SPORTS
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two-times former champion Novak Djokovic overcame a lapse in concentration to beat unseeded American Tennys Sandgren 6-1 6-3 6-7(2) 6-2 and reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.
The Serb, who was also pushed to four sets in punishing daytime temperatures above 90 Fahrenheit (32C)in the first round, was far more comfortable in the evening at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, breaking early and running away with the opening set in 31 minutes.
The 31-year-old was two sets up and leading by a break in the third when he spurned a match point, allowing Sandgren to force a tiebreak that the American won easily.
Aug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA;
Novak Djokovic of Serbia after beating Tennys Sandgren of the USA in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Djokovic, however, recovered well, achieved an early break in the fourth set and closed out the match in two hours, 45 minutes.
"I thought I played really well in the first two sets and then I lost it mentally," Djokovic said courtside. "I lost my composure and concentration but I got it back in the fourth."
The sixth-seeded Serb, who won Wimbledon this year, will face 26th seed Richard Gasquet of France in the third round.
Aug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Tennys Sandgren of the United States hits to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Simon Jennings; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Aug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA;
Novak Djokovic of Serbia (left) andTennys Sandgren of the USA at the net after a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsAug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA;
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits to Tennys Sandgren of the USA in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsAug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA;
Tennys Sandgren of the USA falls after a shot to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsAug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves against Tennys Sandgren of the United States in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY SportsAug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after a miss to Tennys Sandgren of the USA in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports Aug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA;
A general view as Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays Tennys Sandgren of the USA in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsAug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA;
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits to Tennys Sandgren of the USA in a second round match on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
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