World No 1 Novak Djokovic powered into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday night with a 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 triumph over Italy’s Andrea Seppi.
Although, the Serbian defeated the world No 25 in three sets, he was made to work for the win, the third set being particularly taxing as Seppi broke him when he was serving for the match at 5-3 and then had two break points to take it to a tiebreaker at 6-5 only for the reigning Wimbledon champion to seal the victory with a fierce forehand which his opponent sent long.
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The triumph also means Djokovic has not lost a set in the first week of a hardcourt major since the second round of the Australian Open in 2011.
Djokovic said: “It was about just hanging in there and playing to my own pace. “I knew coming into the match he was going to be aggressive and it was a tough three-setter.”