US Open digest: Novak Djokovic wins despite ‘losing it mentally’

Two-time champion Novak Djokovic has progressed to the US Open third round even though he “lost concentration and composure” during his victory over Tennys Sandgren.

Serbian Djokovic beat his American opponent 6-1 6-3 6-7 6-2, but missed the chance to finish it earlier after failing to take a match point in the third set.

“Credit to Tennys for playing well, fighting, a great attitude on the court,” said Djokovic, who next faces Richard Gasquet in the round of 32.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

“I thought I played very well for the first two and a half sets and then I just lost it mentally, I got p****d off at something, myself, my game, I don’t know.

“I’m not happy with the way I lost that concentration and composure there but I managed to regroup in the fourth.

“I started talking to myself, to my team, to everyone else. But it’s in these kind of moments you learn lessons and hopefully I’ll move on a better player.”

Federer to face Kyrgios

Roger Federer comfortably beat Benoit Paire in New York to set up a third-round encounter with Australia’s Nick Kyrgios.

Five-time champion Federer, 37, won 7-5 6-4 6-4 against Paire while Kyrgios beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-0.

Wozniacki shocked

Women’s second seed Caroline Wozniacki is out of the US Open after losing 6-4 6-2 to Lesia Tsurenko.

Dane Wozniacki said: “She played the game I was supposed to play. This part of the season is usually a part of the season I really look forward to, one where I really play well.”

Angelique Kerber is through to the round of 32 after beating Johanna Larsson 6-2 5-7 6-4.