WHAT HAPPENED: On paper, the mission looked simple for Novak Djokovic: Go out and beat the World No. 99, ideally without too much of a struggle, to stretch the Grand Slam winning streak to 25.
Thanks to 20-year-old Jenson Brooksby, it was anything but.
The feisty American, playing in just his eighth Grand Slam singles match, stole away with the opening set against the 20-time major singles champion, as he threatened to become the lowest-ranked male player to ever take down a World No.1 at the US Open.
In the end, it was Djokovic who sped to the finish line, notching a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 triumph to book a quarterfinal with Matteo Berrettini.
“Brooksby is a very young, very talented player,” Djokovic said on court after the victory. “I told him at the net that a very bright future is ahead of him. Definitely he’s a great player.”
The American was exceptional early, and dominated Djokovic in a lopsided opener. But there was no panic from Djokovic’s side of the net. Through 25 matches at the Grand Slams this year, the world-beating Serb has now lost eight opening sets, and still remains undefeated.
“Jenson was pumped, he had a clear game plan, he was executing all the shots very efficiently, and I was really on my back foot,” Djokovic said of his slow start. “I didn’t have the rhythm, made a lot of unforced errors and he was reading the play very well for about a set and a half.”
Djokovic is well-versed in the art of the comeback, and he calmly set about levelling the match against an amped-up Brooksby, as the atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium climbed to a fever pitch on Monday night.
The Serb secured an early break in the second set, but Brooksby carved another piece out of Djokovic as he broke back, claiming an epic 24-point game to arrive back on serve at 2-3.
“What’s the longest game ever?” ESPN commentator John McEnroe asked at one point during the frantic game, which featured six break points and lasted nearly 20 minutes.
The fantastic game concluded with a happy ending for Brooksby, but it would also spell the beginning of the end for the hard-charging Sacramento native. Djokovic broke back immediately and locked down the final four games of the set on the trot.
The third set was the most lopsided of the match, with Djokovic racing out to a 4-0 lead and saving the only break point he faced.
The fourth set followed a similar plotline. Djokovic slowly but surely wrapped the American up in his web. He took a double break lead for 5-2 and served out the set, closing the contest in two hours and 59 minutes.
WHAT IT MEANS: Four down, three to go.
The World No.1 is now three victories away from becoming the first male player to win the Grand Slam since the great Rod Laver in 1969. The three-time US Open champion improves to 25-0 at the majors this season and 79-12 at the US Open.
If he achieves the feat, Djokovic will also pass Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time Grand Slam titles list with 21.
It was a classic statement of intent by Djokovic. It’s clear that he hasn’t been at his best at certain moments in his first four matches, whether due to nerves or a simple lack of execution, but each time he has been pushed in New York, Djokovic has pushed back harder.
MATCH POINT: Brooksby went quietly at the finish, but not before opening the eyes of the packed house in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“He’s got Top 10 written all over him in the next couple of years,” John McEnroe said on ESPN during the match.
“He disguises his drop shots and his slices very well,” Djokovic said. “He’s so talented, he’s very crafty from the back of the court, and he’s a very intelligent player. No doubt about it and he’s only 20, there’s a lot of time ahead of him.”
