Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to move into the third round of the US Open Wednesday but top women's seed Karolina Pliskova crashed out in the tournament's first shock.

Djokovic extended an undefeated run in 2020 to 25 matches&nbsp;as Pliskova was stunned in straight sets by France's Caroline Garcia, the world number 50.

World number one Djokovic dropped the first against Britain's Kyle Edmund but rallied to progress 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 inside a subdued, spectator-free Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows.

"I'm really glad having an early kind of tough match because it kind of serves me better I think for the rest of the tournament," said Djokovic.

The Serbian superstar is looking to close the gap on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent from Flushing Meadows, in the race for the all-time men's Slam singles title record.

The 33-year-old -- who won an eighth Australian Open title in February -- is on 17, with Nadal on 19 and Federer on 20.

Pliskova -- the 28-year-old world number three from the Czech Republic -- suffered a miserable 1-6, 6-7 exit to a confident Garcia who rushed to a 5-0 lead in the first set.

Pliskova said her defeat was nothing to do with being elevated to the top of the draw after a host of high-ranking withdrawals over coronavirus fears.

"No, zero pressure from this for me. This is nothing to do with my loss today," she sniffed.

Elsewhere in the men's draw Wednesday, fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece defeated American Maxime Cressy 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 in his first runout on the famous Ashe court.

"It would have been even better with fans but getting a first taste of what it is was great for me," he said.

Earlier fifth seed Alexander Zverev defeated American wildcard Brandon Nakashima in a far from smooth 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-1 win.

The world number seven traded 24 aces with 10 double faults against a player ranked 223 inside an empty but and humid Louis Armstrong Stadium to move into round three.

"I was sweating through my shoes, which is unusual," said Zverev, explaining a footwear change during the match. "I needed to go from the dry tires to the wet tires a little bit."

Belgian seventh seed David Goffin also progressed as the top seeds continue to dominate at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

<h2>- Empty tank -</h2>

In the women's draw, 2018 champion Naomi Osaka sailed into the third round, dismantling Italy's Camila Giorgi 6-1, 6-2 in just 1hr 9min.

Sixth seed Petra Kvitova vanquished Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 while Germany's Angelique Kerber beat compatriot Anna-Lena Friedsam in straight sets.

The 17th seed won 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in one hour 40 minutes inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Also in the women's event, unseeded Russian Varvara Gracheva dumped out French 30th seed Kristina Mladenovic 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0.

Mladenovic's exit came after a remarkable collapse. The Frenchwoman led 6-1, 5-1 and failed to convert four match points as Gracheva came roaring back to win.

"I just collapsed," a gloomy Mladenovic said afterwards. "I had nothing left in the tank."

The US Open is taking place in a spectator-free bubble, resulting in a staid atmosphere in contrast with the usual frenetic energy that pervades the grounds of the tennis center during Open week.

Game-winning points are being met with the odd clap from coaches and admiring glances from rival players watching from their own personal suites in Arthur Ashes.

Crowd noise is piped-in between sets while images of spectators cheering from their sofas at home are shown on "fan cams" around the Arthur Ashe court.

Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to move into the third round of the US Open Wednesday but top women's seed Karolina Pliskova crashed out in the tournament's first shock.

Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to move into the third round of the US Open Wednesday but top women's seed Karolina Pliskova crashed out in the tournament's first shock. Djokovic extended an undefeated run in 2020 to 25 matches as Pliskova was stunned in straight sets by France's Caroline Garcia, the world number 50. World number one Djokovic dropped the first against Britain's Kyle Edmund but rallied to progress 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 inside a subdued, spectator-free Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows. "I'm really glad having an early kind of tough match because it kind of serves me better I think for the rest of the tournament," said Djokovic. The Serbian superstar is looking to close the gap on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent from Flushing Meadows, in the race for the all-time men's Slam singles title record. The 33-year-old -- who won an eighth Australian Open title in February -- is on 17, with Nadal on 19 and Federer on 20. Pliskova -- the 28-year-old world number three from the Czech Republic -- suffered a miserable 1-6, 6-7 exit to a confident Garcia who rushed to a 5-0 lead in the first set. Pliskova said her defeat was nothing to do with being elevated to the top of the draw after a host of high-ranking withdrawals over coronavirus fears. "No, zero pressure from this for me. This is nothing to do with my loss today," she sniffed. Elsewhere in the men's draw Wednesday, fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece defeated American Maxime Cressy 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 in his first runout on the famous Ashe court. "It would have been even better with fans but getting a first taste of what it is was great for me," he said. Earlier fifth seed Alexander Zverev defeated American wildcard Brandon Nakashima in a far from smooth 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-1 win. The world number seven traded 24 aces with 10 double faults against a player ranked 223 inside an empty but and humid Louis Armstrong Stadium to move into round three. "I was sweating through my shoes, which is unusual," said Zverev, explaining a footwear change during the match. "I needed to go from the dry tires to the wet tires a little bit." Belgian seventh seed David Goffin also progressed as the top seeds continue to dominate at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. - Empty tank - In the women's draw, 2018 champion Naomi Osaka sailed into the third round, dismantling Italy's Camila Giorgi 6-1, 6-2 in just 1hr 9min. Sixth seed Petra Kvitova vanquished Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 while Germany's Angelique Kerber beat compatriot Anna-Lena Friedsam in straight sets. The 17th seed won 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in one hour 40 minutes inside Louis Armstrong Stadium. Also in the women's event, unseeded Russian Varvara Gracheva dumped out French 30th seed Kristina Mladenovic 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0. Mladenovic's exit came after a remarkable collapse. The Frenchwoman led 6-1, 5-1 and failed to convert four match points as Gracheva came roaring back to win. "I just collapsed," a gloomy Mladenovic said afterwards. "I had nothing left in the tank." The US Open is taking place in a spectator-free bubble, resulting in a staid atmosphere in contrast with the usual frenetic energy that pervades the grounds of the tennis center during Open week. Game-winning points are being met with the odd clap from coaches and admiring glances from rival players watching from their own personal suites in Arthur Ashes. Crowd noise is piped-in between sets while images of spectators cheering from their sofas at home are shown on "fan cams" around the Arthur Ashe court.

Djokovic through as Pliskova crashes out of US Open

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has returned back to training after recovering from COVID-19. Boris Bosnjakovic, the head coach of Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, took to social media platform Instagram to post photographs of the Serbian ace going about his business along with Filip Krajinovic.

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has returned back to training after recovering from COVID-19. Boris Bosnjakovic, the head coach of Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, took to social media platform Instagram to post photographs of the Serbian ace going about his business along with Filip Krajinovic. Djokovic was one of the several players who had tested positive for coronavirus during the ill-fated Adria tour. The 17-time Grand Slam winner was central to widespread criticism for the lack of social distancing measures during the course of the event. ALSO READ: Blame me but leave Novak Djokovic alone: Serbian Prime Minister boris_bosnjakovic_professional's profile picture boris_bosnjakovic_professional 40 posts 430 followers 366 following Boris Bošnjaković NOVAK TENNIS CENTER Head Coach @novak.tennis.center www.novaktenniscenter.com POSTS IGTV TAGGED Instagram Search Search 3 subhayan_chakraborty's profile picture ABOUTHELPPRESSAPIJOBSPRIVACYTERMSLOCATIONSTOP ACCOUNTSHASHTAGSLANGUAGE English © 2020 INSTAGRAM FROM FACEBOOK Next boris_bosnjakovic_professional's profile picture boris_bosnjakovic_professional • Novak Tennis Center boris_bosnjakovic_professional's profile picture boris_bosnjakovic_professional No1e with our fitness guru Zoran Grbović and our coach Branislav Pralica 5d irina.leon5's profile picture irina.leon5 Wow👏👌👍🏼🙌🔥 4dReply irina.leon5's profile picture irina.leon5 Какие парни!!!🔥👏👍🏼🙌 4dReply 5 DAYS AGO Add a comment… View this post on Instagram No1e with our fitness guru Zoran Grbović and our coach Branislav Pralica A post shared by Boris Bošnjaković (@boris_bosnjakovic_professional) on Jul 16, 2020 at 1:30pm PDT Include caption By using this embed, you agree to Instagram's API Terms of Use . × ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic's faulty serve to the tennis world The Serb apologized for his decision to hold the event while announcing that he along with his girlfriend had tested positive for the dreaded virus. While many supported him for what they saw as unfair criticism, others including the likes of Nick Kyrgios slammed Djokovic and other participants for their behavior. "I knew Roger would step up to the plate when there were discussions on the prize money of the Grand Slams a while ago," French veteran Gilles Simon told L'Equipe. "But the impression I have is that we lost him on the way, that the representation of the players does not matter to him. If there is a voice that carries, it is his. View this post on Instagram Novak Djokovic & Filip Krajinović had a great practice today @novak.tennis.center @lacoste @headtennis_official @asics @krajinovic_filip #headtennis #lacostetennis #tennis #atp A post shared by Boris Bošnjaković (@boris_bosnjakovic_professional) on Jul 16, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT × "I see Djokovic like any human being, with his strengths and flaws. But with Roger Federer, we only talk about his strengths. With Novak a" only about his flaws. It would annoy everyone if Djokovic breaks Federer's records. It angers people that he (Djokovic) is so strong. "It can also be seen in the crowd, on the court, in the Australian Open final. The anger against Novak is a huge mistake. Much of the public doesn't consider him as (important as) Roger or Rafa (Nadal)."

Novak Djokovic back in training after COVID-19 recovery ahead of US Open

Novak Djokovic targets a 10th successive semi-final appearance at the US Open on Tuesday when he faces longtime rival Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, one of three Frenchmen in the last-eight. 
 
World number one Djokovic, the champion in New York in 2011 and 2015, has hardly broken sweat in the first four rounds. 
 
He needed four sets to beat Jerzy Janowicz in his first match before he enjoyed a walkover in the second, an injury-enforced retirement in the third followed by a brutal dismantling of Briton&#39;s Kyle Edmund in the last-16.&nbsp; 
 
In Tuesday&#39;s other men&#39;s quarter-final, Lucas Pouille, who knocked out 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal in five sets on Sunday, faces French compatriot Gael Monfils. 
 
The women&#39;s quarter-finals also start Tuesday with world number two Angelique Kerber facing last year&#39;s runner-up Roberta Vinci and two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki up against surprise packet Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia. 
 
Djokovic, looking for his third major of 2016, boasts a remarkable record in New York. 
 
As well as his two titles, the 29-year-old was runner-up in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013. He was a semi-finalist in 2005, 2006 and 2014. 
 
The Serb also boasts a 15-6 winning record against ninth seed Tsonga, a run stretching back to their first meeting in 2008 Australian Open final. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m feeling very good. I didn&#39;t have much time on the court overall before the fourth round,&quot; said Djokovic who came into the tournament suffering from a wrist injury while also needing treatment on his upper right arm in the first and fourth rounds. 
 
&quot;Considering I had some struggles before the tournament, I feel great at this moment physically; mentally as well I&#39;m motivated.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam quarter-finals feeling good, it&#39;s exactly where I want to be.&quot; 
 
Monfils beat Pouille in their only meeting -- in five sets in the first round of the Australian Open in 2015. 
 
But 22-year-old Pouille is now Grand Slam hardened having made a maiden Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon before stunning Nadal. 
 
Monfils, who turned 30 on September 1, is in his third quarter-final in New York. 
 
In his last appearance at this stage in 2014, he squandered a two-sets lead against Roger Federer. 
 
Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Kerber, a semi-finalist at the US Open in 2011, takes on 33-year-old Vinci. They are tied at two wins apiece. 
 
Kerber, who can depose Serena Williams as world number one by the end of the tournament, has yet to drop a set at the tournament. 
 
But she won&#39;t underestimate Vinci, who stunned Serena in the semi-finals last year. 
 
Wozniacki, a former world number one and runner-up in 2009 and 2014, has already put out top ten seeds Svetlana Kuznetsova and Madison Keys on her way to the quarter-finals. 
 
Now ranked 74, the popular Dane faces unlikely quarter-finalist Sevastova who was so depressed about the state of her game back in 2013 that she retired. 
 
Her decision to return has been richly rewarded with a shock victory over French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the second round. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

World number one Djokovic will face long-time rival Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, one of three Frenchmen in the last eight, on Tuesday

Novak Djokovic targets a 10th successive semi-final appearance at the US Open on Tuesday when he faces longtime rival Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, one of three Frenchmen in the last-eight. World number one Djokovic, the champion in New York in 2011 and 2015, has hardly broken sweat in the first four rounds. He needed four sets to beat Jerzy Janowicz in his first match before he enjoyed a walkover in the second, an injury-enforced retirement in the third followed by a brutal dismantling of Briton's Kyle Edmund in the last-16. In Tuesday's other men's quarter-final, Lucas Pouille, who knocked out 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal in five sets on Sunday, faces French compatriot Gael Monfils. The women's quarter-finals also start Tuesday with world number two Angelique Kerber facing last year's runner-up Roberta Vinci and two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki up against surprise packet Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia. Djokovic, looking for his third major of 2016, boasts a remarkable record in New York. As well as his two titles, the 29-year-old was runner-up in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013. He was a semi-finalist in 2005, 2006 and 2014. The Serb also boasts a 15-6 winning record against ninth seed Tsonga, a run stretching back to their first meeting in 2008 Australian Open final. "I'm feeling very good. I didn't have much time on the court overall before the fourth round," said Djokovic who came into the tournament suffering from a wrist injury while also needing treatment on his upper right arm in the first and fourth rounds. "Considering I had some struggles before the tournament, I feel great at this moment physically; mentally as well I'm motivated. "So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam quarter-finals feeling good, it's exactly where I want to be." Monfils beat Pouille in their only meeting -- in five sets in the first round of the Australian Open in 2015. But 22-year-old Pouille is now Grand Slam hardened having made a maiden Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon before stunning Nadal. Monfils, who turned 30 on September 1, is in his third quarter-final in New York. In his last appearance at this stage in 2014, he squandered a two-sets lead against Roger Federer. Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Kerber, a semi-finalist at the US Open in 2011, takes on 33-year-old Vinci. They are tied at two wins apiece. Kerber, who can depose Serena Williams as world number one by the end of the tournament, has yet to drop a set at the tournament. But she won't underestimate Vinci, who stunned Serena in the semi-finals last year. Wozniacki, a former world number one and runner-up in 2009 and 2014, has already put out top ten seeds Svetlana Kuznetsova and Madison Keys on her way to the quarter-finals. Now ranked 74, the popular Dane faces unlikely quarter-finalist Sevastova who was so depressed about the state of her game back in 2013 that she retired. Her decision to return has been richly rewarded with a shock victory over French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the second round. (AFP)

Djokovic seeks 10th US Open semi-final in row