Before an Arthur Ash stadium packed to the brim, Novak Djokovic passed his round of 16 match against Borna Gojo without complications, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours and 26 minutes.
It was exactly the match the Serb needed -- an efficient, smooth three-setter -- after Friday's five-setter against Djere. And also at night, with the atmosphere that he likes. "It's exciting and stressful at the same time," he explained in the exit tunnel to the track. "But after so many years, after so many times playing here, you find the balance between both emotions."
If Nole represented experience, with his 98th US Open match, Borna Gojo was the complete opposite: he was going to play in the center for the first time in his life, to play the first Grand Slam round of 16 of his career. . "The extra games help," said the Croatian, who had played three games in the previous phase, and another three in the big draw. "I have played very good tennis, I feel good and I come here with confidence."
Djokovic knew very well what to expect from the matchup. “I know him well. We have trained together many times. We are from the same region”, explained the Serb. "He has a powerful game and a great serve."
But immediately the difference in level between the two players became clear. Gojo's cannon shots did not dent Djokovic's experienced armor, which he broke in the first and fifth games of the first set to clinch the set in 41 minutes.
With a few minor tweaks to his game, the young Croatian didn't break down and wrested serve from Novak in the second game. But the triple US Open champion is one of the great experts in recovering broken serves and restored the balance the next game, with the help of three double faults from his opponent. That seemed to put off Gojo, who would shake his head or lower his arms when Djokovic hit winners down the line. He held off the Croat until the eleventh game, in which he dropped serve that gave the Serb enough of an advantage to add the second set to his score.
Fatigue and frustration were increasingly evident on Borna Gojo's face, who saw the Serb's dominance repeat itself in the last set. The Croatian delivered his serve in the seventh game and, without any further difficulties, Djokovic closed the match. "One of the keys was to try to neutralize his serve and so that he didn't get so many free points with his serve," explained number two. Obviously, his strategy worked.
The quarterfinal challenge is a little more complicated. He will face Taylor Fritz, the only tennis player who has not lost a single set so far in the tournament. "It's amazing that there are three Americans in the quarterfinals, for the first time since 2005. Ben (Shelton,), Taylor (Fritz) and Tiafoe have a great serve," Djokovic analyzed. “Taylor has been top 10 in the last two years. He has played very good tennis especially in the American tournaments. It's going to be a very tough matchup."
