Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Reigning champion Novak Djokovic was
an easy second-round winner on a hot Friday at the U.S. Open.
The second-seeded former world No. 1 star drubbed Brazil's Rogerio Dutra
Silva 6-2, 6-1, 4-1 in 1 hour, 39 minutes at Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic currently holds two of the four Grand Slam titles, as he also won
this year's Australian Open in addition to his 2011 U.S. Open championship
when he beat Rafael Nadal in the final at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center.
The five-time major champion is also a two-time U.S. Open runner-up (2007,
2010).
Spanish star David Ferrer was also a second-round winner on Day 5.
The fourth seed moved on in straight sets against Dutchman Igor Sijsling, but
the tight third went to a tiebreak, as the gritty Spaniard settled for a 6-2,
6-3, 7-6 (14-12) decision on the Grandstand court.
Ferrer advanced in 2 hours, 27 minutes, breaking Sijsling four times en route
to the round of 32.
Nifty 13th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet moved on by easily beating
Stanford University's Bradley Klahn 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old American Steve Johnson reached the third round by
overcoming talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4.
Gulbis launched 24 aces in a losing effort.
The former USC Trojan Johnson is the two-time reigning NCAA singles champ.
The Sports Network