Additional reporting by Steve Keating in New York; additional reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles. Editing by Toby Davis
Djokovic turned up the heat to defeat Fritz and advance to the semi-finals of the US Open
(1/6)Tennis – US Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, US – September 5, 2023 Serbian Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his quarter-final match against American Taylor Fritz REUTERS/Brendan McDiarmid acquires licensing rights
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic outlasted sweltering heat and Taylor Fritz 6-1 6-4 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the US Open on Tuesday and continue his way to a fourth title at Flushing Meadows. Watch him match Margaret Court’s record of 24 major championships.
With temperatures once again hovering around 100 F (38 C), Djokovic produced a clinically impressive effort, improving his record against the American at the US Open to 12-0.
And while Fritz’s Grand Slam tournament is over, the United States is guaranteed to have at least one player in the men’s semi-finals, as Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton take on an all-American take on Arthur Ashe later on Tuesday, with Djokovic waiting to take on the winner. for a place in the final on Sunday.
“It is of course expected that people will support the home player and there is nothing wrong with that,” Djokovic said. “I actually like the energy, like the atmosphere on Center Court here.
“The day sessions, the night sessions, people are starting to get involved.
“I’m fine with that. I thrive on this energy and try to use it as fuel.”
“I’ve played in this stadium for many years, many epic matches, I can’t wait for another match in a few days.”
On a sweltering day, 19-year-old Coco Gauff kept the Arthur Ashe crowd warm, beating Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-0 6-2 to become the youngest American to reach the US Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001.
But Fritz couldn’t keep up the party, even though the 25-year-old had chances, but only managed to convert twice out of 12 break opportunities while committing 51 unforced errors, nearly double his opponent’s 26.
Fritz has lost all seven of his encounters with Djokovic and has never been beaten by a top 10 seed in a Grand Slam, but he reached the quarter-finals in a stellar performance, the only player not to drop a set and break just once in 50 service games.
Djokovic wasted no time finishing the two games, breaking his opponent three times and then winning the first set with an ace.
Fritz finally held serve to open the second set but soon felt the pressure again, breaking ninth seed Djokovic for the fourth time to take a 2-1 lead and close out the set in equally fine style with an ace.
With the crowd behind him, Fritz offered more resistance in the third game but could not find a way back, as the 36-year-old Serb took the decisive break at 5-4 and then held serve to improve to 13-0. In the quarter-finals of the US Open.
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