Novak Djokovic looks to continue his blistering US Open progress when he plays old rival Nikolay Davydenko in the third round.
Davydenko may be a seasoned veteran of the tour and he's twice reached the US Open semi-finals but he will need all of that experience just to keep this one competitive as Djokovic is playing like man possessed right now.
The top seed came so, so close to dishing out the first triple bagel for 24 years as he overwhelmed Carlos Berlocq in Thursday night's second round.
“I have been playing this well for a while this year. I’ve played some matches when I’ve felt like I can’t miss a ball. Any athlete or tennis player will tell you when you’re playing perfectly, everything seems so good and you’re so happy," he said afterwards. "That’s exactly where you want your game to be, at the highest possible level. I’m working hard each day and this is a tournament where I want to perform my best. I’m not underestimating any opponent and I’m taking seriously every match I play."
It's been a tough season for Davydenko who has never really regained the form which made him one of the best on the planet at the end of the 2009 season. He came through a gruelling five setter to see off 32nd seed Ivan Dodig in the opening round before enjoying a comfortable win over Potito Starace.
Despite his opponent's regal form, Davydenko will take comfort from the fact that he's always been a troublesome opponent for Djokovic. Even when they met in the first round of the Montreal Masters a month ago, Davydenko actually led by a double break before Djokovic came back.
“He definitely cannot be underestimated,” Djokovic assessed. “If he’s on a roll and feeling the ball well, he can be very dangerous because he plays very fast. But if I continue playing this way I’m confident that I have a good chance.”
Look for Djokovic to win in straight sets again but this one definitely won't be as one-sided.
