Second seed Novak Djokovic was one set away from becoming the biggest casualty at this year's US Open until a moment of self-evaluation during a toilet break inspired a comeback win.
Fellow Serbian Laslo Djere played the match of his life - unerring and unfazed by the occasion. Just like their first meeting on the Belgrade clay last year, it was Djere who was in a winning position, but this time in a bigger setting with higher stakes.
Djere led 6-4, 6-4 over the three-time US Open champion. The only other time Djokovic trailed by two sets to love and won in New York was in the 2011 epic semifinal against Roger Federer when he saved two match points late in the fifth set to complete a remarkable comeback.
This time there were no match points that were saved, perhaps not comparable to nerve-shredding drama from 12 years ago, but at two-sets-to-love down Djokovic was still not out of it. Time and again, he has managed to save himself from such situations.
Speaking during the on-court interview, Djokovic was quizzed on the adjustments he implemented in his game being in such a precarious position in the match and whether he had a moment of self-reflection when he went off the court before the start of the third set.
"Actually I did, I am not lying. I did a little pep talk in the mirror. I kind of laughed at myself because I was so pissed off and agitated and annoyed with the result, and with the game."
"But you know I had to kind of force myself to lift myself up, lift the spirits up a little bit. I've done it a few times before in my career, it worked, a few times it didn't work, but tonight it did and I am grateful."
Djokovic congratulated Djere for putting up one of his best tennis performances on hard courts, and it couldn't have come at a more important time in the season especially as the two of them are set to pair up at this month's Davis Cup qualifiers.
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