NOVAK DJOKOVIC rallied back from a set down to beat 20-year-old American Jenson Brooksby at the U.S. Open on Monday to secure his quarterfinal passage on his way to beating rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the record for most Slams.

Novak Djokovic may seem invincible, but he hasn’t exactly played like that all throughout this year’s U.S. Open. There have been chinks in the armor in his bid to becoming the first man since Rod Laver did in 1969 and 1962 to achieve the “Calendar Slam:” holding all Slams in the same year.

Djokovic is the man to beat at this year’s final Slam and has all the weight of the world records on his shoulders. If he wins in New York, he will sit above his great rivals, Federer and Nadal, with the most Grand Slams.

Still, it hasn’t been an assured road, even if Djokovic is very clear favorite, he has shown drips in form along the way, dropping sets in his first and third rounds, notably with Kei Nishikori, and yet again, giving away the first set in his Round of 16 against a member of the crop of young sensations making waves at the U.S. Open, Jenson Brooksby.

The 20-year-old American Brooksby — who got on everyone’s radar with his surprise win at the Hall of Fame Open this summer — shocked the night crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium by making the 20 Slam champion look very vulnerable early on. Ranked just 99, Brooksby ran through Djokovic’s comfort zone, breaking his serve twice, and winning the first set easily 6-1. The American seemed determined to give the hometown crowd the advantage they cheered on.

“A very young, very talented player,” Djokovic said.

(SD-Agencies)