Djokovic advances with straight-set win at U.S. Open

NEW YORK, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Top-ranked Novak Djokovic recorded a three-set win Friday to join defending champ Andy Murray in the third round of the U.S. Open.

Djokovic overcame a slow start to defeat Benjamin Becker 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 6-2. Becker was up a break in the opening set before Djokovic forced the tiebreak, in which he won six of the first seven points.

Joao Sousa will meet Djokovic in the third round after outlasting Jarkko Nieminen 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The third-seeded Murray also had to work hard while moving past the second round, downing Leonardo Mayer 7-5, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Murray's next opponent will be Florian Mayer, a 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 winner over Donald Young.

The night match in the men's draw turned out to be a marathon with former champion Lleyton Hewitt finally overcoming No. 6 seed Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 champion, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.

In other Friday results, 12th-seeded Tommy Haas defeated Lu Yen-Hsun 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) while No. 21 Mikhail Youzhny beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 and 31st-seeded Julien Benneteau ousted Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Marcel Granollers rallied from two sets down and edged by Rajeev Ram 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. Tim Smyczek also advanced in yet another lengthy match, getting past Alex Bogomolov 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.