Djokovic fends off Kendrick challenge

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Third seed Novak Djokovic tamed big-hitting American qualifier Robert Kendrick 7-6 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round of the U.S. Open Friday.

The Serbian, runner-up to Roger Federer last year, saved two set points in the first-set tiebreak before eventually clinching a hard-earned victory.

Feeding off the crowd, Kendrick went for broke at every opportunity and hit back from 6-2 down in the tiebreak to force two set points, only for Djokovic to shut the door.

One break gave him the second set and another in the opening game of the third ended Kendrick's hopes as Djokovic eased through to a meeting with Croatian 30th seed Marin Cilic.

"He served really precise, and really, really strong," Djokovic said. "It was very difficult for me to get any rhythm on my returns."

"I had to keep the high percentage of the first serves in order to really stay with him because he hit some good returns and he was being aggressive, and that was the right tactic. But I managed to stay," he said.

Djokovic said an injury scare in his last match was behind him and the ankle was not giving him any trouble.

"I think it's already history," he said. "I wish that doesn't come back. Today I didn't feel any discomfort on the movements, especially the quick ones."

(Reporting by Simon Cambers and Claudia Parsons)

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)