Top seed Novak Djokovic survived a first-set wobble to defeat Germany’s Benjamin Becker 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 and reach the US Open third round on Friday.
The world number one saved two set points in the 10th game of the opening set, but once he had weathered the storm it was plain sailing for the 2011 champion who is bidding to make the final for a fourth successive year.
Djokovic sent down 13 aces in his 1hr 51min victory as well as 40 winners with 18 of his 26 total unforced errors coming in that uncomfortable first set against the world No.87.
“Becker is a quality player and he should have won the first set. I was fortunate to come out of it, but after that I felt more comfortable on the court,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic now goes on to face either Jarkko Nieminen of Finland or Portugal’s Joao Sousa for a place in the last 16.
Chinese fifth seed Li Na and third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska made the women’s last 16 on Friday as heavyweights Andy Murray and Serena Williams waited in the wings.
The night program also features two former champions clashing for a place in the third round with Australia’s 2001 winner Lleyton Hewitt against Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, the sixth seed who claimed the 2009 title.
Li hit 11 aces in a 6-2 7-5 victory against teenager Laura Robson, reversing her loss to the Briton at the same stage last year.
The 31-year-old Li, who saw her opponent hit 30 unforced errors and a paltry seven winners, goes on to face either Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara or Serbian ninth seed Jelena Jankovic, the 2008 runner-up, for a quarter-final spot.
“I was really happy how I was hitting on the court,” Li said. “And I thought I served really well.”
Robson, 19, had been bothered by a wrist injury in the run-up to the tournament and now has a problem with her teeth.
“I will see my doctor when I get back (about the wrist). I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out, as well,” she said.
Li’s best US Open performance was a run to the quarter-finals in 2009.
But that is one round better than Radwanska, who has stumbled at the fourth round stage on three occasions.
The 2012 Wimbledon runner-up made the last 16 once again with a 6-4 7-6 (7-1) win over Russian 32nd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a quarter-finalist in 2011.
Seeded at a major for the first time, Pavlyuchenkova was undone by 41 unforced errors, which rendered her 32 winners irrelevant against the steady Radwanska.
Murray, who had to wait until Wednesday night to get his title defence underway, tackles Leonardo Mayer, the Argentine world number 81, for a place in the last 32 after brushing aside French veteran Michael Llodra in his opener.
The third-seeded Scot has played in the finals of the last four Grand Slam tournaments in which he has competed, a run which included a first Wimbledon title last month.
Four-time champion Williams, the top seed, has dropped just four games in her opening two matches and takes on big-hitting Russian-born Kazkhastan player Yaroslava Shvedova, the world number 78, for a last-16 spot.
Williams, chasing a 17th Grand Slam title, has won both their previous meetings in Toronto in 2009 and Wimbledon last year.
Shvedova has twice been a women’s doubles champion at the US Open, partnering Vania King to victory in 2010 and 2011.
