Djokovic reaches 3rd round at U.S. Open

New York: Novak Djokovic reached the third round at the U.S. Open with a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over 52nd-ranked Philipp Petzschner of Germany on Thursday.

Play was delayed in the eighth game while police escorted away three fans after a fight in the upper deck in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The No. 3-seeded Djokovic has made it at least this far all six times he's played at Flushing Meadows. He lost in the final in 2007, then the semifinals in 2008 and 2009 — each time to Roger Federer. They could meet in this year's semifinals.

Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion, next plays wild-card entry James Blake of the United States.

Petzschner has lost in the second round in all three of his trips to the U.S. Open.