NEW YORK, Sep 6 : Novak Djokovic overcame the heat and engineered a lopsided victory over top-ranked American Taylor Fritz to remain undefeated in the US Open quarterfinals.
Competing in the 34-degree heat on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night, the 36-year-old was in no mood to relinquish his streak against Fritz, triumphing 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to improve to 8-0 in the pair’s ATP Head-to-Head series.
The Serbian, who now holds a perfect 13-0 record in quarter-finals in New York, set an Open-era men’s record of 47 Grand Slam semifinal appearances, surpassing Roger Federer’s mark of 46.
Djokovic, who improved to 8-0 lifetime against Fritz, took command early and never relinquished control as he methodically marched to his 359th Grand Slam singles victory and set a semifinal clash with either tenth-seeded Frances Tiafoe or Ben Shelton.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion is chasing his fourth title at the hard-court Slam, having triumphed in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
The Serbian has earned four straight-set wins this fortnight, but was made to battle against Laslo Djere in the third round, rallying from two sets to love down for the eighth time in his career.
The Serbian great, who has won 23 of his past 24 matches, is one win away from reaching the final at all four majors in the same year for the third time in his career (2015, ‘21). He is also trying to win three Slams in the same year for the fourth time (2011, 2015, 2021).
Djokovic will reclaim No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on September 11 for a record-extending 390th week regardless of his ultimate result in New York
Shelton overcomes Tiafoe
The 20-year-old Ben Shelton scripts history at Flushing Meadows after he knocked out countryman Francis Tiafoe in the topsy-turvy quarterfinal.
Shelton needs just one more game to reach his first Grand Slam final after defeating Tiafoe with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 scoreline.
With Tuesday night’s win, the 20-year-old becomes the youngest American to reach the US Open semifinal since Michael Chang in 1992.
Shelton impressively improved to break into the Top 20 of the ATP live rankings following a heartbreaking first-round loss at the tournament last year when he was rated No. 165.
However, it won’t be easy for Shelton in the semifinal as he will face the mighty Novak Djokovic, who looks in ruthless form eyeing his fourth US Open title.
Djokovic after his win against Taylor Fritz went straight into his 47th major semifinal, surpassing Roger Federer’s mark of 46.
Gauff routs Ostapenko
The 19-year-old Coco Gauff of the United States stormed past No. 20 seed Jelena Ostapenko to seal her maiden entry into the women’s singles semifinals at the US Open here on Tuesday.
Gauff came up with a dominant display as she defeated Ostapenko 6-0,6-2, extending her win streak to 10 matches on Tuesday.
Gauff thus became the first American teenager to reach the semifinals here since Serena Williams did it in 2001.
It was a battle between two form players. Ostapenko had caused a major upset in the fourth round by beating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Gauff has now won 16 of 17 matches in 35 days.
Gauff committed to chasing every ball down from the start. Desperate to make anything work, Ostapenko tried going for an uncharacteristic drop shot on break point in her next service game; Gauff sprinted up to the ball and easily put it away to break again.
She claimed the first set in just 20 minutes.
Though Ostapenko put up a slightly better performance in the second set, it did not start on a good note as Gauff broke her serve in the first game itself.
But the Latvian, who became the third woman in history to win four straight three-set matches to reach the US Open quarterfinals, produced some good winners. She broke back immediately and held for the first time, and even earned a break point opportunity at 3-2.
Gauff held her serve, then broke Ostapenko again as the No.20 seed began to spray her shots again. She capably came back from a 0-30 deficit on her final service game and hit an incredible forehand winner to end a 17-shot rally to become a first-time US Open semifinalist.
Muchova wins
In the women singles, No. 10 seed Czech player Karolina Muchova advanced to her second hard-court Slam semifinal after defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
Muchova has now made the semifinals or better at three of the four majors. She first broke through at the 2020 Australian Open and made her first major final three months ago at Roland Garros.
She will next face No.6 American Coco Gauff on Thursday for a spot in the final.
Thursday’s semifinal will be a rematch of the Cincinnati Masters final just two weeks ago, where Gauff got the better of a fatigued Muchova to win her first WTA 1000 title. (IANS)
