Novak Djokovic is making quite a name for himself.
After reaching the U.S. Open final a year ago, he jokingly said before this year’s tournament that he would get in the way of the much anticipated rematch of the Wimbledon final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
He has also found himself in the gossip pages, because of a rumored romance with Leryn Franco, the Olympic javelin thrower, which he denied.
Yesterday he was more concerned with Californian Robert Kendrick, who tested the third-seeded Djokovic before falling in straight sets, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, 6-4.
Djokovic’s run at spoiling another Federer-Nadal matchup continued into the third round, where he will face 30th-seed Marin Cilic.
This victory did not come without some trouble, as Kendrick took Djokovic to a tiebreaker in the first set and came back from a 2-6 hole in the tiebreak to force a pair of set points. But Kendrick hit one long on his first attempt and then Djokovic got a winner past him on the second. Djokovic closed it out with a backhand return of serve.
After the 29-year-old Kendrick couldn’t complete the first-set comeback, Djokovic, who reached the finals here a year ago before losing in straight sets as Federer won his fourth consecutive title, rolled.
“That was frustrating, not taking advantage of that first set,” said Kendrick, who was clearly the crowd favorite at Arthur Ashe Stadium, despite being virtually unknown. “If I take that one, who knows what would have happened?”
Djokovic said he wasn’t shocked that Kendrick put up a fight.
“I kind of new before the match he was going to go for his shots,” Djokovic said. “We’ve played before. He served precise and strong. It was hard for me to get ready for the return.”
Djokovic impressed Kendrick.
“I was really surprised by how fast he was,” Kendrick said. “There were a few shots that I hit that he got to and I was shocked. He’s a good athlete.”
Djokovic proved that last year before Federer captured his fourth consecutive U.S. Open title. That tournament is when Djokovic cemented himself as one of the top players on tour, and he has come back this year to reach the semifinals of the Olympics and the French Open.
Djokovic’s hopes of reaching another final should be helped because his ankle, which he injured in his first round win over Arnaud Clement, did not present any problems yesterday.