WHAT HAPPENED: No. 1 Novak Djokovic dominated his third-round matchup against American Denis Kudla, winning in routine straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Djokovic said during an on-court interview after the match that he was glad he could play the match “almost pain free.” He has struggled with pain in his left shoulder.
"That was a big improvement from the last match," Djokovic said.
The Serb was hardly rattled throughout his just-over-two-hour victory, hitting six aces on a 62 percent first-serve rate, winning 81 percent of those points. He also rushed the net 20 times, converting on 15 of those chances.
Djokovic will face No. 23 Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion, in the fourth round. The last time the pair faced each other was in the 2016 US Open final.
Djokovic was at his shot-making best throughout the night. On a break point chance early in the first set, an entertaining exchange ended when Djokovic angled a volley for a winner to break and go up 3-1. Djokovic's serve held up well, and he ably served out the set with a 59 percent first-serve percentage.
Kudla couldn’t get his footing against the nimble shot-maker in the second. Serving at 2-3, a Djokovic backhand pass set up a break chance for Djokovic. He capitalized as Kudla sent a forehand into the net after a 20-ball rally.
But Kudla would get another chance as Djokovic served at 4-3, deuce. Djokovic hit an excellent angle volley on a Kudla pass that the American was able to track down for a winner, giving Kudla a break point chance that would even the set. Djokovic sent a 117 mph ace down the middle.
A double fault on the next point gave Kudla another chance but another big serve to the American’s backhand foiled it. Another big serve up the middle handed Djokovic the game. Kudla held, forcing Djokovic to serve out the set.
The Serbian didn’t blink, although Kudla came up with a great shot on the first set point, tracking down a Djokovic volley for a solid pass to the open court. But that served as just a minor delay for Djokovic, who finished out the set on the next point.
The third set was equally routine. Djokovic broke Kudla in the first game and saved two break points in his first service game to consolidate. Kudla had a chance to break down 2-3, but Djokovic rifled a crosscourt backhand error to bring the game back to deuce. A big serve on the ad point to Kudla’s forehand allowed him to move ahead, 4-2.
In the next game, an exasperated Kudla saved one break point and lost two game points before Djokovic broke on his second break point of the game. Djokovic held easily to take the set and the match.
WHAT IT MEANS: Djokovic is having an epic year, even by his standards. His win over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, lasting four hours and 55 minutes in which he saved two match points, contributed to his near-flawless record in Grand Slams this year. His lone loss at a Grand Slam came from Dominic Thiem at the French Open.
Friday’s match presented a big opportunity for Kudla, who was ranked a career-high No. 53 in 2016. The 27-year-old American, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area, was only 25-60 on hard courts entering his third round match. This year’s US Open third round was his best-ever finish in New York.
MATCH POINT: The last time Djokovic competed at the US Open and did not make at least the fourth round was his third-round exit in 2006.
