US Open Day 5 live: Novak Djokovic averts disaster in massive comeback

Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic has showed why he’s one of the greatest of all time with a crushing comeback victory at Flushing Meadows.

The final Slam of the year has entered the third round with upsets still rolling in as the competition heats up.

Australian fans are throwing their support behind Rinky Hijikata who booked his spot in the fourth round on Saturday after a masterful outing.

Fellow Aussie Alex de Minaur won his way through to the third round with his next match coming on Sunday.

3.35pm - Djokovic flexes muscle in crushing comeback

Novak Djokovic has shown why he is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, coming back from two sets down to demolish 32nd-seeded countryman Laslo Djere at Flushing Meadows.

Djokovic only dropped five games across the last three sets to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, taking just over an hour to bring the match back to level pegging and take it into a deciding set.

Nine’s Todd Woodbridge, when Djokovic served for the match, remarked that the comeback showed why “Djokovic was one of the greatest to ever play this game.”

“Novak did have to bring out something special to get through this, and he did,” remarked Jelena Dokic.

“It’s the sheer willpower of the man,” said Woodbridge.

Djokovic will now play 105th-ranked Borna Gojo in the fourth round - Djokovic has never dropped a set in four meetings against the Croatian, but they have not met since the 2020 Vienna Open.

“I hope you (the crowd) enjoyed the show - it definitely was not so enjoyable for me, especially the first two sets,” Djokovic said after the match.

“One of the toughest matches I have ever played here.”

The win marks Djokovic’s eighth career comeback win from two sets down, the most recent occurrence coming against Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year.

Djokovic has only once achieved the feat at Flushing Meadows, in the 2011 semifinal against Roger Federer.

In six of those eight instances, Djokovic went on to eventually win the Grand Slam outright.

What a comeback!

23-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic comes back from two sets down for the 8th time in his career, beats (a great) Serbian #2 Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the last 16 at the #USOpen once again. 1.32am.

Faces Borna Gojo on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/uM7EP0UKss

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 2, 2023

1.30pm - Djoker on brink of disaster

Novak Djokovic is on the ropes in his third round match against countryman Laslo Djere.

Djere seeded number 32 in the tournament came out on fire as he demolished his superstar opponent to take the opening two sets.

The stunning display from the underdog saw him drop only three points on serve in the second set.

Djokovic began his fightback early in the third set as he reeled off four straight game wins, but the tennis world is standing to attention as the number two seed fights with his back against the wall.

Live look at Laslo Djere 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RXsLle7Wmk

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 2, 2023

11.30am - Gauff survives early scary

American teenage sensation Coco Gauff has survived a third round scare to advance into the second week at the US Open.

Taking on Belgian Elise Mertens, Gauff had her back against the wall early after losing the opening set.

Her troubles continued early into the second set with the match all locked up at 3-3 and Mertens holding firm.

Gauff then found her groove and ran away with the contest, reeling off nine straight games to secure the 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.

She’ll now take on former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round.

9.15am - Aussie star into the fourth round

Rinky is into the fourth round. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has done it. The 22-year-old booked his spot in the fourth round after a masterful display on Saturday.

Hijikata dominated his opponent Zhang Zhizhen from the outset as he claimed the 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

The Aussie unfurled a stream of 55 winners to overpower Zhang before sealing victory with his 13th ace of the match in the fourth set.

In what is only his second Grand Slam appearance the young star continues to defy belief and will now advance into the second week of the US Open where he’ll take on tenth seeded American Frances Tiafoe.

Tiafoe dropped the opening set of his third round encounter before storming to victory against Adrian Mannarino.

In only his second ever grand slam main draw, 🇦🇺 Rinky Hijikata is through to the second week at the #USOpen

Defeated Zhang Zhizhen in the third round, 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Big next match against Frances Tiafoe. pic.twitter.com/VSs9J8ZQFC

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) September 1, 2023

Hijikata !!!

Never thought he would be in the 4th round of a grand slam, but LFG

+130 winner ✅#GamblingTwitter#USOpen

— Break Point Betting (@BreakPointtBets) September 1, 2023

8.30am - Day five results

Men’s

Rinky Hijikata def. Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Taylor Fritz (9) def. Jakub Mensik 6-1, 6-2, 6-0

Dominic Stricker def. Benjamin Bonzi 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2

Tommy Paul (14) def. Alejandro Fokina (21) - 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3

Frances Tiafoe (10) def. Adrian Mannarino (22) - 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6

Ben Shelton def. Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0

Women’s

Belinda Bencic (15) def. Zhu Lin 7-6, 2-6, 6-3

Coco Gauff (6) def. Elise Mertens (32) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0

Iga Swiatek (1) def. Kaja Juvan 6-0, 6-1

Karolina Muchova (10) def. Taylor Townsend 7-6, 6-3

Wang Xinyu def. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Jelena Ostapenko (20) def. Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Caroline Wozniacki def. Jennifer Brady 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

8am – Volatile star loses it at US Open crowd

Daniil Medvedev once again has drawn the ire of the U.S. Open crowd — just like he did in 2019.

Medvedev advanced to the third round after a hard-fought 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (8), 6-2 win over Christopher O’Connell on Thursday night, but not after losing his cool multiple times and getting into an argument with some fans in the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Medvedev blows up at the crowd. Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP.

The 27-year-old, who won the U.S. Open in 2021, started to implode after failing to convert a few match points, one on a double fault.

O’Connell used the energy of the crowd to win four points in a row to take the third set in the tiebreaker.

Before the fourth set started, a cameraman was looking to get an up-close shot of a frustrated Medvedev, who angrily pushed the camera away.

But Medvedev wasn’t done with his antics.

Danil Medvedev telling the crowd to shut up #USOpenpic.twitter.com/Iu0IjRFcOo

— Cuza 🇷🇸 (@cuzafnt) September 1, 2023

With the fourth set tied 1-1, he got annoyed with members of the crowd who were talking and rushing back to their seats because it was not a change and he was attempting to serve.

“Can you shut up guys? Are you stupid or what?” an annoyed Medvedev appeared to say in the direction of a woman in the crowd who blew him a kiss while she was getting back into her seat.

During his on-court interview, Medvedev said the back-and-forth with the crowd helped fire him up this time, adding that it hasn’t been the case all the time.

“It depends, sometimes yes. Sometimes no. You can’t often know how it’s going to go. It’s kind of like a lottery,” he said with a smile.

Medvedev’s next encounter with the U.S. Open crowd will be on Sunday when he faces unseeded Sebastian Baez in the third round.

– Ted Holmlund, NY Post