Novak Djokovic turned out to be too high a hurdle for Matteo Berrettini. © APA / getty / ELSA
Novak Djokovic is getting closer and closer to winning the Grand Slam at the US Open in New York. The Serb defeated the Italian Matteo Berrettini in four sets in the quarter-finals and is now playing against Alexander Zverev.
09. September 2021
Author: apa/sda
After almost three and a half hours and well after midnight, Djokovic used his first match point to make it 5: 7, 6: 2, 6: 2, 6: 3, making him the twelfth time in the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows. The world number 1 had already defeated Berrettini in four sets in the quarter-finals in Roland Garros and in the final of Wimbledon. Only the spectacular first round was exciting, which lasted 78 minutes and which Berrettini won 7: 5 thanks to his only break. Djokovic then took control of the game, made an early break in sets 2 to 4 and stayed untouched in his own service games.
With his best performance so far this year in New York, Djokovic underpinned his favorite role for the title. It would be the 21st at a Grand Slam tournament, which would overtake Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. In the semifinals, however, the German Alexander Zverev is waiting, against whom Djokovic suffered his last defeat in the semifinals of the Olympic tournament in Tokyo. Zverev prevailed in his quarter-finals 7: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 4 against South African Lloyd Harris.
Im Halbdinale: Maria Sakkari © APA/getty / Sarah Stier
Maria Sakkari (WTA 18) completed the women’s semi-finals. The 26-year-old Greek won the duel against Karolina Pliskova (WTA 4) from the Czech Republic 6: 4, 6: 4. In the semifinals, Sakkari, who has already reached the round of four at the French Open in Paris, will meet British qualifier Emma Raducanu, who has defeated Belinda Bencic.
