Novak Djokovic put on another dominant display at the US Open as he dispatched Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-4 6-1 6-1 in two hours. It was a statement performance that sent a message to the rest of the draw – including top seed Carlos Alcaraz. The pair are still on course to meet in the final.
Djokovic returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium after a devastating performance on Monday night which saw him drop just five games to Alexandre Muller. The second seed was taking on Zapata Miralles for the first time, with the Spaniard saying he had “nothing to lose” going into the match.
The pair stepped onto the court in the heat of the day with temperatures reaching 28 degrees – just weeks after Djokovic struggled in the hot temperatures during the Cincinnati Open final. The Serb had to save two break points in his opening service game but he quickly kicked into life, breaking to lead 3-2.
Zapata Miralles managed to save another break point but he couldn’t hold Djokovic at bay for too long as the three-time US Open champion easily closed out the opening set 6-4 to love. And the No 2 seed went into another gear in the second set.
Djokovic won six games in a row after the Spaniard held for 1-0, racing through the set to take it 6-1 and put himself within touching distance of the third round. The world No 76 tried to follow the second seed by raising his level at the start of the third set with former world No 3 David Ferrer watching on from his box.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion was forced to save four break points across his first two service games in the set but Djokovic showed why he was one of the main men to beat in New York, breaking Zapata Miralles and leaving the Spaniard with nothing to show for his efforts.
Despite all of the 26-year-old’s efforts at the start of the third set, Djokovic took control and got a second break as he closed out a straight-set victory for the loss of just six games.
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