Djokovic wins epic struggle as Henin marches on

NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) Third seed Novak Djokovic came back from the brink of defeat to squeeze past Czech Radek Stepanek 6-7 7-6 5-7 7-5 7-6 after a battle lasting four hours 44 minutes in the U.S. Open second round today.

''I am totally exhausted. I have no energy,'' the 20-year-old Djokovic told the crowd. ''I smelt my shoes, they are so stinky, but it's always good to win those matches.'' In the women's event, world number one Justine Henin needed only 50 minutes to reach the fourth round with a 6-0 6-2 triumph over Russian qualifier Ekaterina Makarova.

Makarova upset Japanese 28th seed Ai Sugiyama in the second round but was no match for the 2003 Open champion.

''I'm very happy to be on the court,'' said the Belgian. ''I'm healthy. I love to play. I love being out there.

''I just want to give my best in every shot. That's what I did.'' SAFIN LOSES Another Russian to bow out was 2000 Open winner Marat Safin, beaten 6-3 6-3 6-3 by 22-year-old Stanislas Wawrinka.

Safin made 51 unforced errors, compared to 20 by his Swiss opponent, and was never able to break serve.

''The way he was serving the last two sets was pretty impressive so he had a lot of free points and easy balls,'' said Safin. ''Whatever he was trying to do was great.

''I just didn't have the opportunity to break him or try to do something different because the guy was pretty fast and I wasn't really at my best.'' But the day was not a total loss for the Safin family as Marat's sister, 15th seed Dinara Safina, sealed a meeting with Henin by defeating American wildcard Ahsha Rolle 6-4 6-3.

Huge crowds stood outside Louis Armstrong Stadium to watch the Djokovic match on large television screens when it appeared the Serb could be on his way out.

The tired Djokovic, who reached the French Open and Wimbledon semi-finals, said he was unsure how he would physically feel against third-round opponent Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina.

Djokovic and world number 35 Stepanek suffered with cramp in the later stages.

''I'm doing fine but I lost,'' Stepanek said. ''We had a great battle until the end.'' Reuters BJR VP0312