World number one Novak Djokovic cruised past 121st-ranked Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and did so despite dealing with a heckling fan who seemed intent on trying to put him off his game.
The Serbian champion, who moved five matches from completing the first men’s singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years with the victory, booked a third-round date with 2014 US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori of Japan.
Djokovic was supposedly booed during his first round win Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune – although an alternative theory is that the crowd was simply shouting ‘Rune’ – and one member of the crowd went too far in today’s match according to the top-ranked men’s player.
Djokovic missed an overhead in the first set and stared over toward a section of the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands.
After taking the next game, Djokovic glared in that direction again. Later, he spoke to the chair umpire about someone making noise in the middle of points, considered a no-no in tennis.
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The Serbian star claimed the heckler was distracting him at “every single point”. The result was never in doubt but Djokovic said it was “unfair” players had to deal with that kind of behaviour.
“Particularly that guy for some reason was calling, raising the sound and kind of screaming just before I would hit my smash, which was a big point. Before that he would do a few times,” Djokovic said after the match.
“After that again. I think, you know, that wasn’t nice. That’s all. I don’t mind the noise. Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s important for the entertainment, for the crowds, the music. I get it.
“But if someone does it over and over again, particularly when you are at his side, he knows why he’s doing it. The guy that I pointed out, he knew exactly what he was doing.
“If someone intentionally does it over and over again, then I have tolerance up to a certain point, then it’s not correct, then it’s not fine. It’s not fair. I feel like it’s not good for us players.”
This was only the fourth Slam match for Griekspoor, a 25-year-old Dutchman who tends to appear on the lower-level ATP Challenger Tour. And he never really stood much of a chance against Djokovic, who broke to lead 3-1 and was on his way.
Djokovic dominated every statistical category. He served well, to the tune of 13 aces. He serve-and-volleyed occasionally. He returned well enough to win half of Griekspoor’s service games. He dominated baseline exchanges.
In addition to his Grand Slam aspirations, Djokovic took another step toward claiming a 21st major championship to eclipse the mark he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic is 2-0 at Flushing Meadows this week and 23-0 in Grand Slam tournaments this year, with five more wins standing between him and history.
“I am motivated as ever to do well,” Djokovic said. “I am trying to be the best I can be every single day and let’s see what happens.”
Nishikori defeated American Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 2-6, 6-3, avenging a loss in last month’s Washington semi-finals.
Djokovic has a 17-2 career record against Nishikori, who last beat the Serbian star in the 2014 US Open semi-finals.
Since then, Djokovic has won 16 in a row, most recently in the Tokyo Olympic quarter-finals.
“Even though I had a bad record, I always try to be positive,” Nishikori said.
“I’m sure it’s going to be tough one, but I do my best.”
– with AP
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