September 03, (THEWILL) — Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect 11-0 record against Taylor Fritz with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the US Open quarter-finals at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night.
The 38-year-old Serbian saved his first 10 break points before Fritz finally converted one, only for Djokovic to break straight back and claim the second set with a celebration that included blowing kisses to the initially divided crowd.
Fritz showed resilience throughout the encounter, particularly in the third set where he found his rhythm to take the set 6-3 and extend the match.
The 27-year-old American’s powerful serve and improving forehand kept him competitive, but crucial double faults at key moments proved costly.
His best chance came when leading 5-4 in the second set, but two consecutive double faults handed the break back to Djokovic.
The match featured several compelling moments, including a 25-shot rally during a break point in the first set and Djokovic producing a tweener early in the third set that demonstrated his enduring athleticism despite his advancing years.
Fritz’s serve delivered the aces that had carried him through the tournament, but unforced errors and nerves at critical junctures prevented him from capitalising on break point opportunities.
Djokovic now advances to face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in Friday’s semi-final, with the 22-year-old having progressed through five matches without dropping a set.
The head-to-head record between the pair stands at 5-3 in Djokovic’s favour, though Alcaraz defeated him twice in Wimbledon finals whilst Djokovic claimed victory in the 2024 Olympics final.
The Serbian continues his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title, having overcome various physical challenges during this tournament including a toe blister and lower back issues.
At 38, Djokovic became the oldest player to reach the US Open quarter-finals since Jimmy Connors achieved the feat at 39 in 1991, maintaining his status amongst the sport’s elite competitors.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
