“It’s just a lot of fun”. Djokovic has won 10 of his last 11 matches on hard court.
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On Monday night, Djokovic brushed aside those injuries to claim a four-set victory over Jerzy Janowicz.
The walkover comes as an added bonus for the top seed, who will have had three full days rest by the time he faces either Argentina’s Guido Pella or Russian Mikhail Youzhny on Friday.
The 23-year-old Vesely, ranked 49th, beat Djokovic in the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo event in April in their only meeting, making him one of two top 100 players with more wins than losses against the Serbian.
The seventh-seeded Italian beat American Christina McHale 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday.
“It’s nice of course to come back but you have a lot of pressure”, said Vinci who was ranked 43 in the world this time previous year.
Two-time Wimbledon victor Petra Kvitova, the 14th seeded Czech who recorded her best performance in NY 12 months ago when she made the last-eight, beat Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
“I feel like my body is in shock”, Konta told medics as she sat shaking on the baseline of Court 13 just after going down set point in the second set.
But a couple of hours before they would have taken the court, Vesely pulled out because of left forearm inflammation. “But probably the key is don’t think about this”.
Kvitova, the 14th seeded Czech who recorded her best performance in NY 12 months ago when she made the last-eight, beat Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
“If I make the second week, I’ll be happy”, said Kvitova, keen to dampen down expectations. That injury also kept him from playing at Cincinnati.
The 24-year-old Harrison, who was considered a huge talent as a teenager, is now through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career after the 6-7 (7-4) 7-5 7-5 6-1 victory.
Early winners in the men’s event were South Africa’s Kevin Anderson who saw off Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-4.
The timing couldn’t be better for Djokovic, who has struggled with his own arm and wrist injuries since the Rio Olympics. Fellow Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, the French Open champ, faces 48th-ranked Anastasija Sevastova to open the session.
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Sock will meet 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, the Croatian was similarly impressive in his second round, smashing Ukrainian veteran Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-1 6-2 6-3.
