- World No 1 advances to third round after 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win
- Karolína Plíšková saves match point and hits record 24 aces
On an evening when it seemed nothing could derail Novak Djokovic’s charge towards a record-setting 21st major singles title and the first calendar-year grand slam in men’s tennis in 52 years, it was a mouthy spectator in the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd who did more to trouble the world No 1 than his opponent on the court.
Serving at 3-3, 30-all in the second set against the 121st-ranked Tallon Griekspoor during their US Open second-round match on Thursday night, Djokovic missed a routine overhand to go break point down for the first time in the match, then shot a glare in the direction of a fan who made noise during the point. The miscue was compounded immediately when Djokovic was broken after netting a backhand. But rather than stew or combust, the best player in the world and top seed in the men’s draw broke back immediately and cruised to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory in 99 brisk minutes.
