Straight sets for Djokovic

Djokovic: held on

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Novak Djokovic wrapped up day four of the US Open with a straight sets victory over Germany's Philipp Petzschner to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows.

The third seed won 7-5 6-3 7-6 (8-6) under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium against a spirited opponent armed with a formidable serve.

Djokovic was made to wait 12 games before gaining his first service break and the fiercely fought, energy sapping match led to an unusual third set tiebreak where seven points in a row were won against serve.

The favourite then squandered two match points, double-faulting on the first when serving at 6-4 before hitting a forehand into the net on the second.

However, Djokovic sealed the win when 52nd-ranked Petzschner, who claimed this year's Wimbledon doubles title Austrian Jurgen Melzer, sailed a second service return long.

"He's a very good player, you have to give him credit," the Serb said. "He serves well. He was changing up the pace and not giving me any rhythm. I was just fortunate to hold on.

"It was very shaky at the end of the match but I was just fortunate to hold on."

There was added drama when a fight broke out in the upper deck of the stadium and three people were arrested and led away by New York police.

US Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier later said it was a "disagreement over verbiage".

Blake through

Djokovic, runner-up to Roger Federer in 2007 and beaten semi-finalist by the Swiss in the last two years, will next face unseeded American James Blake after he beat Canada's Peter Polansky 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-4.

Blake, who is ranked 108th in the world and needed a wildcard to get into the tournament, has been taking anti-inflammatories for a damaged knee since Wimbledon and is also dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries.

However, cheered on by an enthusiastic home crowd, the 30-year-old sealed victory in two-and-a-half-hours and said his body could withstand a run to the second week.

"You saw tonight there were some shots I was getting to that even some 21- and 22-year-olds might not have been getting to," Blake said. "But I feel great, my knee's feeling great."