US Open: Novak Djokovic moves into quarters after beating last American in singles draw
Novak Djokovic came out of the group to record his 25th consecutive victory in matches at the majors this year.
American wildcard Jenson Brooksby was for half an hour in control of the match and created a raucous atmosphere as the Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered for the last USA tennis player left at the US Open.
However, the Serbian 20-time Grand Slam winner took control of the match to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Monday night. He extended his pursuit of a true Slam and a record-breaking 21st major championship while also eliminating the last American singles player in the tournament.
It is the first time in the history of an event that dates to the 1880s that no man or woman from the host country reached the quarterfinals.
Perhaps affected by the physical nature of the extended exchanges, Brooksby was visited by a trainer after the second set and again after the third. Still, for someone who never had set foot on Ashe’s blue court until about two hours before the match, when he got a chance to practice there, Brooksby never seemed overwhelmed by the setting or the circumstances.
Djokovic, 34, next meets No. 6 Matteo Berrettini of Italy in a rematch of the Wimbledon final.
