Novak Djokovic enters exclusive 'Club 600' with Roger Federer and Guillermo Vilas

Since the beginning of the Open era, 27 players have reached the 600 ATP wins milestone. Rafael Nadal is the only player with at least 400 wins on two different surfaces and we have three other players who have achieved an equally impressive record of 600 triumphs on a single surface! Guillermo Vilas was the first to complete the task on his beloved clay, followed by the hard-court giant Roger Federer, who is still the leader of the pack with 782 wins on a single surface. On Friday night, Novak Djokovic joined this trio following the third-round victory at the US Open, securing his 150th hard-court success at Majors and the 600th overall, becoming the second player after the Swiss to accomplish both feats. Novak has been among the best players on cement alongside Roger, claiming 11 Majors, 26 Masters 1000 crowns and five ATP Finals trophies on hard to notch 42 notable titles on his beloved surface, leaving Federer on 39.

Novak is yet to lose a match in 2020, scoring 26 triumphs from as many encounters, all of those on hard courts. The Serb earned the milestone 600th ATP win on hard thanks to a dominant display against Jan-Lennard Struff in New York, beating the German 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in an hour and 43 minutes to reach last 16. With 34 winners and 23 unforced errors, Novak was always in front, delivering rock-solid tennis that required the best from Struff to grab at least those seven games. Jan-Lennard got broken five times from 11 opportunities that Novak created, unable to do much on the return and finishing his journey in the third round. Novak saved a break point in the first game of the clash with a successful challenge, with both players setting into a fine rhythm on serve until the sixth game. There, Struff repelled a break point with a service winner, leveling the score at 3-3 and staying alive.

Novak Djokovic is second player with 600 ATP wins on hard after Roger Federer. 

Djokovic grabbed the first break in game eight thanks to a German's forehand mistake, opening a 5-3 gap and closing the opener with a service winner in game nine for a 6-3. Novak dropped five points in his games in set number two, keeping the pressure on Struff with 11 winners and seven unforced errors. The Serb converted the fourth break opportunity in the first game with a forehand crosscourt winner, holding at 15 to open a 2-0 gap. Jan-Lennard claimed the third game with an ace, reducing the deficit and playing well until game nine.

There, Novak secured the second break following a backhand mistake from his rival, taking a big step towards the finish line after only 72 minutes. Keeping the intensity of his strokes, the Serb had 12 winners and seven unforced errors in set number three, fending off three break chances in games one and seven and seizing the victory with a double break. The top seed survived two break points in the early stages, clinching a break at love in game four to move 3-1 in front. Djokovic seized another break at 4-1, saving a break point a few minutes later and crossing the finish line for the 600th ATP victory, securing another record in an already packed season. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2F9246W