Steady Djokovic into quarters

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:47

The Serbian former Australian Open champion scored a 6-1 6-3 6-3 win in an hour and 46 minutes over the 15th seed from the Czech Republic but was never really stretched by an inconsistent opponent.

The victory for Djokovic sets up a last-eight clash with 10th seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain, who had earlier in the day ended American interest in the US Open men’s singles draw by knocking out the unseeded John Isner in four sets.

Djokovic had needed a five-set tie-break to get past Stepanek the last time they met at the US Open in 2007, the year the Serb reached his first grand slam final, losing to Roger Federer.

It quickly became apparent his work would not be so strenuous this time and Stepanek, the oldest man still left in the draw at 30 years and nine months, even disappeared from view at 1-1 when he took a time-out to apply his contact lenses.

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