U.S. Open: Đoković survives epic match

Third seed Novak Djokovic survived an epic five-set game against Czech Radek Stepanek to reach U.S. Open 3rd round Friday. Both players needed rubdowns to relieve the leg cramps that threatened to end the match at any moment. When Djokovic won the final tiebreaker 7-2 he fell to the court in a mixture of fatigue and jubilation. U.S. Open: Djokovic survives epic match "I am totally exhausted. I have no energy," the 20-year-old Djokovic told the crowd after the 6-7 7-6 5-7 7-5 7-6 triumph that lasted four hours 44 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium. "It's tough to be proud when you lose, but I have a great feeling from that match," said world number 35 Stepanek. "I gave all I had. I know I had my chances, but that's life." "We had an unbelievable fight, a remarkable match," said Djokovic, a 20-year-old Serb who will face Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the fourth round. "We should both be proud. Of course, it's always good to be the winner of such a five setter." Djokovic and former top-10 player Stepanek produced as entertaining and lengthy a U.S. Open match as there's been in quite some time. Djokovic has emerged as a potential challenger to No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal, and on this day, he emerged victorious, if only barely, beating friend and sometime-doubles-partner Stepanek. When it ended, Stepanek stepped over the net, dropped his racket and trudged over to apply a bearhug so hearty the weary Djokovic nearly toppled over. "As much as I was running and sliding and cramping, whatever, I still had a lot of fun," Djokovic said. "There are a couple of points that are really unforgettable." The match lasted 63 games, the most at the U.S. Open since 1979. That year, John Lloyd and Paul McNamee played the same number to set the tournament record for games in a singles match since tiebreakers were introduced in 1970. "Long day," Djokovic said. "Long match." Novak Djokovic (FoNet) Third seed Jelena Jankovic and fifth seed Ana Ivanovic both reached the women's fourth round. Another Serb, Janko Tipsarevic was stopped because of an injury while losing 6-2, 6-3, 3-2 against Rafel Nadal. Jankovic of Serbia weathered a 4-6 6-2 6-3 third-round challenge from 17-year-old Frenchwoman Alize Cornet. "I underestimated my opponent because I thought she was a junior that I would have an easy job," said Jankovic, an Open semi-finalist in 2006. "That was a big mistake for me. "She gave me a really hard time, but I managed to somehow stay positive out there." Ivanovic had little trouble with Russian Vera Dushevina, winning the third-round match 6-1 6-3 to set up a round of 16 affair with Venus Williams. Jelena Jankovic (FoNet)

U.S. Open: Đoković survives epic match

"I am totally exhausted. I have no energy," the 20-year-old Đoković told the crowd after the 6-7 7-6 5-7 7-5 7-6 triumph that lasted four hours 44 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"It's tough to be proud when you lose, but I have a great feeling from that match," said world number 35 Stepanek. "I gave all I had. I know I had my chances, but that's life."

"We had an unbelievable fight, a remarkable match," said Đoković, a 20-year-old Serb who will face Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the fourth round.

"We should both be proud. Of course, it's always good to be the winner of such a five setter."

Đoković and former top-10 player Stepanek produced as entertaining and lengthy a U.S. Open match as there's been in quite some time.

Đoković has emerged as a potential challenger to No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal, and on this day, he emerged victorious, if only barely, beating friend and sometime-doubles-partner Stepanek.

When it ended, Stepanek stepped over the net, dropped his racket and trudged over to apply a bearhug so hearty the weary Đoković nearly toppled over.

"As much as I was running and sliding and cramping, whatever, I still had a lot of fun," Đoković said. "There are a couple of points that are really unforgettable."

The match lasted 63 games, the most at the U.S. Open since 1979. That year, John Lloyd and Paul McNamee played the same number to set the tournament record for games in a singles match since tiebreakers were introduced in 1970.

"Long day," Đoković said. "Long match." Third seed Jelena Janković and fifth seed Ana Ivanović both reached the women's fourth round. Another Serb, Janko Tipsarevic was stopped because of an injury while losing 6-2, 6-3, 3-2 against Rafel Nadal.

Janković of Serbia weathered a 4-6 6-2 6-3 third-round challenge from 17-year-old Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.

"I underestimated my opponent because I thought she was a junior that I would have an easy job," said Janković, an Open semi-finalist in 2006. "That was a big mistake for me.

"She gave me a really hard time, but I managed to somehow stay positive out there."

Ivanović had little trouble with Russian Vera Dushevina, winning the third-round match 6-1 6-3 to set up a round of 16 affair with Venus Williams.