New York (AFP) – Novak Djokovic set up a titanic US Open semi-final with Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday as the Serbian star kept his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam firmly on track. The 38-year-old Djokovic advanced to a record-equalling 14th US Open semi-final with a four-set win over fourth seed Taylor Fritz, eliminating the last American in the men’s draw.
Djokovic’s 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory saw him improve to 16-0 against US opponents in New York as he reached the last four of a major for the 53rd time. “It was an incredibly close match. It was really anybody’s match,” said Djokovic, who also drew level with Jimmy Connors for the most US Open semi-final appearances. “I thought I was really lucky to save some crucial break points in the second set. I think for most of the second and third sets he was the better player.”
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Fritz saved two match points in a tight fourth set before sealing his own fate with a double fault. “That last game was nerve-wracking. A tough one for Taylor to finish with a double fault, he didn’t deserve that,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic and Alcaraz will square off for the first time since the Australian Open quarter-finals in January when the Serbian won in four sets to take a 5-3 edge in their rivalry. Friday’s encounter is their fifth at a Grand Slam but first at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic has won all three past meetings on hard courts.
Djokovic broke Fritz straight away inside a raucous Arthur Ashe stadium as he zipped into a 3-0 lead in the first set and brought up set point on his opponent’s serve in the eighth game. Fritz resisted and piled on the pressure in the following game as he earned five break points. He couldn’t convert though as Djokovic relied on his trademark grit to foil Fritz, including in an astonishing 25-stroke rally.
Djokovic eventually held to clinch the set but Fritz carved out more chances in the fourth and sixth games of the second set. His failure to capitalise allowed Djokovic to again seize the initiative by breaking for a 4-3 advantage. Fritz broke back with Djokovic serving for a two-set lead only to tamely surrender his own serve with a double fault in the ensuing game.
Djokovic made no mistake this time to pouch the set and mockingly blew kisses to the crowd as he walked to his chair. However, he began to get riled up with the pro-Fritz support willing their man back into the contest, prompting Djokovic to plead with the umpire to do more to quieten the crowd. His focus dipped fleetingly, and Fritz broke to nudge 3-1 ahead and force a fourth set.
It went on serve until Djokovic brought up two match points with Fritz trying to stay alive. Fritz scrambled to save both, but Djokovic earned another shot, and the American double-faulted to seal his rival’s passage to the last four.
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