US Open: Novak Djokovic wins after Mikhail Youzhny retirement
Saturday 3 September 2016 12:41, UK
Novak Djokovic has been gifted a win by Mikhail Youzhny's retirement after previously profiting from a walk-over at the US Open.
The world No 1 has advanced into the last-16 after Mikhail Youzhny was forced to drop out mid-way through the opening set of their third-round match on Friday.
Djokovic was leading 4-2 when Youzhny's hamstrings eventually gave way, but the Russian had almost been forced to quit earlier after persevering through an intense medical time-out.
In the previous round, Djokovic didn't even take to the court after Jiri Vesely withdrew with an injury.
Ironically, doubts have surrounded Djokovic's own physical well-being during the US Open - he was nursing a wrist complaint at the start of the week which has now been given plenty of extra rest due to Vesely and Youzhny's withdrawals.
Next, the world No 1 will play either Britain's Kyle Edmund or John Isner in the last-16.
Djokovic said: "I don't think I ever had this kind of situation in my career, where I had a second-round walkover and the third round 30 minutes only.
"I'll try to get the positives out of these six games. Obviously I did start very well with a good intensity and I'll try to carry that into the next match."
Seventh seed Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open winner, was eliminated after Jack Sock beat him 6-4 6-3 6-3. Sock will next play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who beat Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-4 7-6.
Gael Monfils eliminated Nicolas Almagro with a 6-4 6-2 6-4 win.
