Djokovic steps up challenge

Novak Djokovic kept alive his hopes of ending Roger Federer’s dominance at the US Open in New York as the third-seeded Serb edged past Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

In an epic, four-hour and 44-minute battle of nerves, the man who beat both Rafael Nadal and Federer en route to winning the ATP Masters Series in Montreal three weeks ago needed a fifth-set tie-break to finally put daylight between himself and the world number 35.

Djokovic won 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-2), sinking to his knees after beating his adversary with a deft half-volley at the end of a tense final rally.

Fired-up Stepanek had used every trick he could to unsettle the 20-year-old, staring down the Serb from across the net after points and playing to the crowd at Armstrong Stadium with dramatic celebrations of big points.

The Czech took the first set on a tie-break before Djokovic replied in kind and there was little to separate the eastern Europeans in the third until Stepanek broke Djokovic for a 6-5 lead to serve for the set.

He showed signs of nerves when he double faulted for the first time in the match to cede a 15-30 lead to Djokovic but soon reverted to type and took the set.

Djokovic, who had had his legs rubbed down during the third set, needed a medical time-out during a fourth-set changeover having taken a 2-1 lead.

An ATP trainer worked on Djokovic’s back as the third seed lay face down in front of his chair.

The Serb had become the first player to forfeit a Wimbledon semi-final in July when his back gave way against Nadal and he looked uncomfortable as he returned to action for the fourth game of the set but the set stayed on serve.

At 5-4 to Djokovic, it was Stepanek who needed a medical time-out as he received treatment for what appeared to be a hip problem.

After an assessment from the ATP trainer, Stepanek was given some medication by an accompanying doctor and play resumed with the Czech serving.

Djokovic had a chance to immediately cash in with a break but failed to seal the deal, although his moment came at 6-5, when he finally broke Stepanek to level the match at two sets all as the encounter headed into a deciding set with the clock already signaling three hours and 44 minutes of play.

Again, the final set went with serve to take the match into a deciding tie-break and Stepanek’s resolve finally crumbled.

Djokovic quickly gained control, taking a 3-1 lead and he never looked back from there, gaining match point at 6-1. Stepanek saved one but in the next point as he took up position at the net and fended a couple of Djokovic attacks with great volleys, the Serb finally found a way past and the battle was won.

The third seed will now face Juan Martin del Potro in round three, following the rising Argentinian player’s straight-sets defeat of number 31 Jurgen Melzer of Austria, 6-3 6-1 6-4.