Novak Djokovic is trying to solve riddles at the US Open but is back in the 3rd round

NEW YORK (AP) — For the second contest in a row at this U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic appeared a bit sluggish, a bit off, for a stretch. This time, he even dropped the opening set. And then, as always at Flushing Meadows, the 24-time Grand Slam champion progressed to the third round.

Djokovic improved to 36-0 across the first and second rounds in New York, a place he's won four championships, by coming back to beat 145th-ranked American qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.

“I really tried to soak it in and enjoy the moment, especially when I won the first set," said Svajda, a 22-year-old from San Diego. "It kind of shocked me. I was like, ‘Wow!’”

Asked on court afterward how he felt in his first competition since losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals on July 11 while hindered by a groin injury, Djokovic replied: “Not that great, to be honest."

Svajda noticed.

“He was missing a little bit,” said Svajda, who got cramps in his legs and arms as the match wore on. “He was getting a little frustrated.”

At his news conference later, the 38-year-old Djokovic spoke a little more about his mood.

“It’s not a motivation thing. It’s just like me a bit frustrated with my game, and then I kind of go through stuff internally that — you don’t want to know the details what I’m going through and telling myself,” he explained after getting to the third round at a major for the 75th time, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for the most such appearances by a man.

“I’m just trying to be locked in. Just trying to solve the riddle once I’m on the court,” Djokovic continued. “It’s not like I’m not finding joy on the court competing. I enjoy competing, but I don’t enjoy not playing well. That’s why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to be better the next day, the next match.”

That will come against Cam Norrie, a British left-hander who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2022 and is 0-6 against Djokovic.

Norrie got past Francisco Comesana of Argentina 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (4) in four hours and now it's his turn to face the task that Svajda did Wednesday against Djokovic.

“He does everything so well, which is incredible,” Svajda said. “I was talking to my team and coaches before, trying to figure it out. It’s Novak Djokovic, so there's not a big weakness.”

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got into a face-to-face argument on the Court 11 sideline right after Townsend won their second-round match 7-5, 6-1. Townsend, an American who is ranked No. 1 in doubles, said Ostapenko, a Latvian who won the 2017 French Open, told her she has “no class” and “no education.”

No. 5 seed Jack Draper, a semifinalist in 2024, withdrew because of a lingering injury to his left arm. Winners included defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, both of last year's runners-up — Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz — along with Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, 2021 champion Emma Raducanu and Emma Navarro. No. 12 Casper Ruud, whose 0-3 record in Grand Slam finals includes a loss to Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows in 2022, was eliminated 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 by Raphael Collignon of Belgium. The 107th-ranked Collignon had never won a match at a major or played a five-setter until this tournament.

Past U.S. Open champions Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are in Ashe, as is No. 14 seed Tommy Paul, while Venus Williams will play in the first round of women's doubles.

Ben Shelton returns a shot to Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, serves against Polina Kudermetova, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Casper Ruud, of Norway, returns a shot to Raphael Collignon, of Belgium, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, reacts after scoring a point against Janice Tjen, of Indonesia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts after defeating Anna Blinkova, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot to Zachary Svajda, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes sweat from his face between serves to Zachary Svajda, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — JuJu Watkins made the most of her brief trip to the USA Basketball senior national team camp.

While she wasn't able to participate in the on-court activities because the Southern California star is still recovering from an ACL injury she suffered last March, Watkins saw the invitation as an opportunity to grow her leadership abilities.

“It’s enough just being (here) and feeling the energy, that’s mostly what I’ve picked up on,” the reigning AP Player of the Year said. “Hearing everyone’s voices, the communications, the leadership, it’s something that you can see automatically. It brings up your standards, so I’ll definitely be taking some of these lessons back to USC to continue to grow as a leader and a player.”

Watkins was able to get up a few stationary shots with coaches after practice was over, which was a positive step in her rehab.

“Whatever I can do, I am trying to maximize that,” she said.

Watkins had announced in September that she would miss the entire college season to give her full attention to rehab. She said Friday that she had tried to put off the decision whether to play for as long as possible, but in the end she “had to come to terms with where I was at. Getting over that mental curve has been the biggest thing."

U.S. coach Kara Lawson said it was important that Watkins, who will be a vital part of the team in the future, to attend the camp.

“We wanted her here ... I think you can see that there’s a great deal of talent there, and that’s somebody that is going to be in the conversation, obviously, in the future,” Lawson said. “We were really intentional about inviting her here and having her be a part of it. I think there’s great value in having her observe and be around the group, and then just the connectivity."

Watkins was only around on Thursday and Friday because she returned to Los Angeles for the 16th-ranked Trojans' game against No. 1 UConn on Saturday.

Being at camp gave her a chance to connect in person with Paige Bueckers. Watkins said Bueckers has been great in helping her with her ACL rehab. Bueckers missed the 2022-23 season with her own ACL tear.

“She’s been checking on me every couple months. Great person,” Watkins said. "So to be here with her, and see her kill it, and see her on the other side of it, it’s very inspiring. She’s just helped me throughout the process of sending the texts, checking in on me, that’s meant a great deal.”

Watkins said she had always wanted to be part of the senior team. The Olympics are in her hometown of Los Angeles in 2028.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be in this atmosphere, so to live out those dreams, even though it looks different, I’m still blessed to be here,” she said.

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Juju Watkins speaks to the media after a training camp for the U.S women's national basketball team, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)