The audience at Arthur Ashe Stadium had a hiccup when Novak Djokovic would easily make it to the quarterfinals of the US Open.
The world setter lost the first set by a full 1-6 against the home jumper Jenson Brooksby, before the order was restored.
Djokovic took the next three sets with 6–3, 6–2, 6–2 and is scheduled for the quarterfinals.
- I must say that it was not a perfect start, admits Djokovic, who has now lost the first set two games in a row.
- But Brooksby played perfect tennis in the first set.
There was nothing I could resist, I tried to find the right one out there on the track, he continues in the victory interview.
"Know what to expect"
The countdown to a touchdown on Rod Laber's performance from 1969, when the Australian won all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year, thus continues.
Djokovic is now three wins away from becoming the first man since to do so.
First out, in the quarter-finals, a replay of this summer's Wimbledon final awaits when sixth-seeded Matteo Berrettini is on the other side of the net.
The Italian defeated German Oscar Otte earlier on Monday with 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
- It will be exciting.
He loves the big matches.
He serves well, and gets up.
I know what to expect, says Djokovic.
Tributes to Brooksby
In the same half, German world fours Alexander Zverev and Lloyd Harris, South Africa, also advance to the quarterfinals after wins against Italy's Jannik Sinner and American Reilly Opelka respectively.
20-year-old Brooksby, who knocked out Mikael Ymer in the first round, can take comfort in having made a name for himself on the world stage and will raise the ranking.
At the turn of the year, he was ranked 307th in the world, ahead of the US Open 99th and when the next ranking is released, it will be another step forward.
- He is a very young, very talented player.
I told him he had a bright future ahead of him.
He is definitely a really good player, says Djokovic.
MORE TENNIS: Here Ymer throws the racket - and quarrels with the referee (1 Sep 2021)
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Mikael Ymer knocked out of US Open Photo: Eurosport