Novak Djokovic Tackles Laslo Djere, Coco Gauff Shines Under US Open Lights

Novak Djokovic will aim for a fast start against fellow Serbian Laslo Djere on Wednesday as he steps up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open. Djere, ranked 109th in the world, was the only player to take a set off Djokovic at last year's US Open, taking the first two of their third-round clash before Djokovic turned the tide on the way to a 24th major crown, which tied him with Margaret Court for most all-time. Djokovic, coming off an emotional triumph at the Paris Olympics, anchored a night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium that opened with defending women's champion Coco Gauff beating 37-year-old Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0.

It was an uneven performance from 20-year-old Gauff, who has endured an erratic season since capturing her maiden major in New York.

She put just 44 percent of her first serves in play and had nine double faults, but the 99th-ranked Maria couldn't capitalize and Gauff won the last seven games to seal the win.

"I think I played well overall," Gauff said. "I think if I could have served better that first set would have been a lot easier."

Djokovic, 37, had quipped that while he enjoys the energy of night sessions he could do with an earlier bedtime.

But he could be grateful to miss the worst heat of a steamy day that saw tournament organizers invoke the extreme weather rule and allows mid-match breaks to distressed players in long matches.

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, runner-up to Gauff last year, didn't have to take advantage, polishing off Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-1 in an hour.

The world number two from Belarus, aiming to become the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win both hard court Grand Slam titles in the same year, said she was determined to