Holders Gauff, Djokovic win second round matches at US Open tennis.

Defending champion Coco Gauff and 12th seed Taylor Fritz capped a terrific day at Flushing Meadows for the home hopes as several Americans moved on to the third round of the US Open tennis championship.

Gauff cleaned up early mistakes to beat unseeded German Tatjana Maria 6-4 6-0, setting up a meeting with 2019 semifinalist Elina Svitolina of Ukraine following her victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night.

“It was a tricky match. I mean, she’s not someone that sometimes you play and you feel great after,” said Gauff. “It was just about execution.”

In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic kept his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title on track after fellow Serb Laslo Djere retired injured while trailing 6-4 6-4 2-0 in their second-round match

The world 109, who pushed his countryman to five sets in New York last year, had required a medical time-out to treat an injury just before dropping the second set.

The 37-year-old Djokovic had himself required a visit from the trainer for what appeared to be a side strain after sealing the first set.

“It’s not what we want to see when there’s a retirement. Laslo had an injury which took him off the tour for some time and he’s been struggling to come back,” said Djokovic.