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Djokovic, a three-times champion at Flushing
Meadows, was never really pushed by the German, who has taken
just one set off the Serb in their five career meetings.
The only drama came early on when Struff had break point
opportunities but could not convert against Djokovic's serve in
the first game.
The players stayed on serve until Struff sent a forehand wide on
break point to give Djokovic a 5-3 lead. The Serb held to love
the next game after firing an unreturnable serve to take the
first set and coasted the rest of the way.
"It was a very, very good performance from my side," Djokovic
said after recording his 600th career win on hard courts.
"I managed to read his serve well. Made one necessary break in
the first set, I faced one or two break points in the opening
game.
"Obviously the trajectory of the match can go differently if you
lose your serve against a big guy like Struff, who serves really
well and has a very aggressive, powerful game from the back of
the court," said the Serb, who is looking for an 18th Grand Slam
title.
"But I moved well and after the first set, the second and third
was a really great feeling on the court."
Djokovic and Marin Cilic, who won the U.S. Open in 2014, are the
only two men remaining in the draw who have won a Grand Slam
tournament.
Djokovic will be a heavy favourite when he faces 20th seed Pablo
Carreno Busta on Spain in the fourth round on Sunday.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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