NEW YORK, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Rafael Nadal had a shorter-than-expected match at the U.S. Open Friday night, while Novak Djokovic survived an encounter that went on and on and on.
Nadal, the second seed, had won the first two sets and had a 3-2 lead in the third, when Janko Tipsarevic retired with a pulled muscle in his rib cage. Nadal had been questionable for the match because of sore knees -- both of which were heavily taped.
Their evening match followed a marathon in which Djokovic needed four hours, 44 minutes to defeat Radek Stepanek, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).
Djokovic, ranked No. 3 in the world at age 20, required treatment on his back and legs during the match. He will meet Juan Martin del Porto Sunday.
In other matches, Tommy Robredo defeated Mardy Fish, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Ivan Ljubicic won over Andrei Pavel, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9-6); Stanislas Wawrinka was a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, winner over Marat Safin; and Carlos Moya ousted Igor Kunitsyn, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
