On Wednesday at the US Open, defending champion Novak Djokovic achieved his ninetieth victory over fellow Serb Laslo Djere, who withdrew from the match in the second round after dropping the first two sets.
Four-time tournament champion Djokovic, who is vying for a record 25th Grand Slam victory, was up 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere announced his retirement.
After losing the second set, the world 109, who had pushed his compatriot to five sets in New York the previous year, needed a medical time-out to tend to an injury.
After winning the first set, the 37-year-old Djokovic needed to see the trainer for what seemed to be a side pain.
World number two Djokovic is now the only man to have won 90 matches at all four Grand Slams.
“It’s not what we want to see when there’s a retirement. Laslo had an injury which took him off the tour for some time and he’s been struggling to come back,” said Djokovic.
“He’s such a good player in these conditions and the second set should have been his, he was 4-2 up.
“I don’t know if (my) winning the second set probably put more burden on him.”
Alexei Popyrin of Australia, whom Djokovic defeated at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, will be Djokovic’s next opponent.
