Defending champion Novak Djokovic stormed into the US Open last 16 on Sunday as Andy Roddick stretched his long goodbye into a prime-time showdown with fellow former champion Juan Martin Del Potro.
Djokovic coasted past French 30th seed Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 despite being forced to open up play on day seven at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It was an early match for me. Usually I don’t like to play the first match,” said second-seeded Djokovic.
“So it was important to stay strong and commit to every point.”
In stark contrast, Sunday’s programme finished at 2.26 a.m. on Monday morning (0626GMT), equalling the latest-ever finish for the tournament.
That was the time when German 19th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber completed his 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over US ninth seed John Isner.
Djokovic didn’t face a single break point in his 97-minute victory, his fourth on the trot against Benneteau, firing 13 aces and 41 winners.
The 25-year-old hasn’t dropped serve since the first game of his first-round match and has made the last 16 for a sixth successive year by losing just 14 games in three rounds.
