NEW YORK: Top-seeded Novak Djokovic punctuated his 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq at the US Open on Thursday with his sweetest shot of the night – a backward, between-the-legs trick shot that veered low and perfect over the net.
Berlocq couldn’t handle it the shot and Djokovic, always the entertainer, cupped his hand to his ear to bask in the applause.
“I played good tennis, tried to win,” Djokovic said. “On the other hand, we tried to engage the crowd. It was nice. A lot of entertainment. Long, attractive points, the through-the-leg shot and things like that. It was a really, really good third set.”
Entertaining, indeed, though there really was only one dramatic story line on this night: Whether Berlocq, ranked 74th, would get a game. Djokovic won the first 14 and appeared on track to become the first man to win a U.S. Open match at love, love and love since Ivan Lendl in 1987.
But trailing 2-0 in the third, Berlocq caught a net cord to get a pair of break points against Djokovic. After Djokovic saved the first, Berlocq hit a running backhand winner to get on the board – and get a standing ovation. (Agencies)
