Novak Djokovic secured a spot in the semifinals of the US Open on Tuesday with a dominant win against American Taylor Fritz.
The second-ranked player appeared confident, moving quickly around the court and making impressive shots from various angles, securing a 6-1 6-4 6-4 victory.
Fritz displayed potential as one of the up-and-coming star players in the world of tennis, but ultimately succumbed to Djokovic’s unrelenting pressure.
Djokovic’s triumph secured his chances of claiming a 24th grand slam victory, keeping him on track to match Margaret Court’s record and further extend his own record in men’s tennis.
Djokovic is set to compete against another American player in the semifinals, with the victor of Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton’s match as his opponent. Despite this, he expressed his excitement for reaching yet another grand slam semifinal.
After winning, Djokovic was clearly filled with joy and led the audience in a singalong of the popular Beastie Boys song “Fight For Your Right.”
During his on-court interview, Djokovic commented on the intense humidity inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium and mentioned seeing Taylor change shirts multiple times due to the sweat.
Playing can be challenging, but that is precisely why we practice and strive to prepare ourselves in the best possible way to perform. It may not be simple, but we must persevere, as the lyrics say, and fight for our right to celebrate.
The Serbian player is currently visiting the United States for the first time since 2021 because of his decision to not get vaccinated. However, he wasted no time and quickly resumed his winning streak by triumphing at the Cincinnati Open before the US Open. In a thrilling final match, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic has remained dominant throughout the New York tournament and the quarterfinal was yet another occasion where he showcased incredible tennis skills.
“I am drawn to the energy and atmosphere present on the court here. I am fueled by that energy, using it to motivate myself and play my best tennis,” Djokovic expressed.
“I have spent countless years playing on this court and have had many unforgettable matches. I am eagerly anticipating another one in just a few days.”
Fritz outclassed
In only 43 minutes, Djokovic quickly took the lead against Fritz, who is currently ranked 9th in the world. He impressed with his incredible returns and strong service games.
Fritz, who is 25 years old, displayed determination as he fought to regain control of the match and engaged in a competitive battle with the renowned tennis player in the second set. Despite Fritz’s strong attempts, a break in the early part of the set gave Djokovic a strong advantage in the match.
Fritz is currently having his most successful performance at his home major tournament. He continued to improve his game and provided Djokovic with a challenging match in the third set.
The American player had several opportunities to break the 36-year-old’s serve, but Djokovic remained composed and performed well during crucial points to maintain his lead.
A large number of people inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium remained supportive of Fritz during the tie, however Djokovic cleverly used the partisan crowd to his advantage. He let out a triumphant roar upon securing the match point.
Source: cnn.com
