Sep 05, 2023 at 10:37 PM Update: 9 minutes ago
Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the US Open on Tuesday with force majeure. The Serbian defeated Taylor Fritz in three sets (6-1, 6-4 and 6-4) and is well on his way to his fourth Grand Slam final of the season.
Fritz did not lose a set until the match with Djokovic, but immediately had no chance in the first company. In the second set, 25-year-old Fritz started strongly with a love game, but 36-year-old Djokovic then had enough of one break.
In the third set, Fritz did not just give up against Djokovic, eleven years his senior. The American had several chances to break Djokovic and did so once. Djokovic hit back a game later and decided the game after 2 hours and 38 minutes.
Hoewel Djokovic in straight sets won, there were frustrations with the 23-time Grand Slam winner. In the third set he was annoyed by a spectator who, according to him, was making too much noise. Nevertheless, he used his second match point not much later.
With the place in the semifinals, Djokovic once again writes history. He is the record holder in the open era with 47 appearances in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament. Until his success in New York, he shared the record with Roger Federer (46 wins).
Quarterfinals US Open
Novak Djokovic-Taylor Fritz 6-1, 6-4 in 6-4
Ben Shelton-Frances Tiafoe
Daniil Medvedev-Andrey Rublev
Carlos Alcaraz-Alexander Zverev
Djokovic can crown a top season in New York
Djokovic will face an American in the semifinals anyway. The winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe is Djokovic’s next opponent. That American get-together will take place on Wednesday (Dutch time).
If Djokovic also settles with Shelton or Tiafoe, he will be in a Grand Slam final for the fourth time this calendar year. He previously won the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Only at Wimbledon did he lose the final (to Carlos Alcaraz).
A new showdown between Djokovic and Alcaraz may await in the final. The Spaniard, with whom Djokovic recently fought a nice duel at the Cincinnati Masters tournament, will play his quarterfinal against Alexander Zverev in the night from Wednesday to Thursday.
Djokovic has managed to reach all Grand Slam finals in the year twice in his career so far: in 2015 and 2021. Last season that was not possible anyway, because Djokovic was not welcome in Australia and the United States due to his vaccination status .
2023-09-05 20:37:18
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