Novak Djokovic Cruises into U.S. Open Semifinals with Convincing Win Over Fritz
In spite of the oppressive heat and Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic easily made it to the U.S. Open Semi-Finals. Tuesday saw him win 6-1 6-4 6-4 and maintain his course for a fourth Flushing Meadows victory, which would tie Margaret Court’s record-tying 24 Grand Slam victories.
With temperatures once more creeping up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), Djokovic put out a cool, clinical performance at the U.S. Open that helped him improve his record versus American opponents with a stunning 12-0 record.
While Fritz’s Grand Slam came to an end, the United States is guaranteed at least one player in the men’s semifinals thanks to an all-American match between Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton on Arthur Ashe later on Tuesday. Djokovic will wait to face the winner for a place in Sunday’s championship match.
19-year-old Coco Gauff had warmed up the Arthur Ashe audience on a scorching day by defeating Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-2 to become the youngest American to reach the U.S. Open Semi-Finals since Serena Williams last 2001.
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Djokovic Continues U.S. Open Streak
Although the 25-year-old had his chances, Fritz was unable to continue the celebration since he only converted two of his 12 break chances and made 51 unforced errors, which is nearly twice as many as his opponent did.
Fritz entered the quarterfinals in phenomenal form, the only player to not drop a set and broken just once in 50 service games. Fritz had lost all seven of his encounters with Djokovic in the past and had never defeated a top-10 opponent in a Grand Slam.
Djokovic broke the American three times before quickly finishing both of those streaks and winning the first set with a thunderous ace.
Finally holding serve to begin the second game, Fritz immediately found himself under duress as Djokovic broke the ninth seed four times to go up 2-1 and end the set with an ace.
Fritz would put up more effort in the third set as the fans began to support him, but he was unable to come back as the 36-year-old Serb broke the match at 5-4 and held serve to improve to 13-0 in the U.S. Open Quarter-Finals.
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Source: Reuters
