On Tuesday, Cori Gauff and Novak Djokovic enjoyed a great day at Arthur Ashe Stadium, sailing into the US Open semi-final. Gauff destroyed Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2 in 68 minutes, remaining on the course toward her first Major crown at 19. After the win, Cori announced a player ready to step at Arthur Ashe Stadium after her, introducing a 23-time Major winner Novak Djokovic and the world’s best player after the US Open. Novak remained perfect in the US Open quarter-finals following a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Taylor Fritz in two hours and 35 minutes. Djokovic beat Fritz for the eighth time from as many duels, taking charge on the return and moving into the record-breaking 47th Major semi-final. Taylor served at 55% and struggled on the second serve, getting broken six times from nine chances offered to Novak. The Serb experienced a couple of challenging service games, playing against 12 break chances and defending ten to keep the pressure on the other side.
Djokovic landed 25 winners and 26 unforced errors, controlling his strokes nicely in challenging conditions. On the other hand, Fritz sprayed 50 unforced errors, leaving the court without winning a set despite a solid effort. Novak broke Taylor three times in a row in the opening set, taking charge from the fourth game and clinching the set 6-1 in 63 minutes. The Serb pushed the American’s second serve to the limits in set number two. Novak grabbed his only break opportunity and defended four break points in the next game to make the difference. Taylor netted a forehand in the third game to experience a break that would cost him dearly. He made a massive push on the return in the next one and created four break points. Novak stayed calm and saved them, delivering an enormous hold and settling into a fine rhythm. Both players served well in the rest of the set, and Djokovic fired an ace at 5-4 to forge two sets to love advantage.
Cori Gauff and Novak Djokovic scored wins at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.
Fritz served well at the start of the third set, earning two break points at 3-2 with a mighty forehand winner. Novak denied them and held with a strong backhand for a roar. Taylor squandered two game points in the seventh game and placed a loose backhand to drop serve and fall 4-3 behind. Eager to fight, Fritz hit a smash winner in the eighth game and created two more break points. Djokovic saved them but lost serve on the third after a forehand error, bringing his rival back to 4-4. Instead of building on that, the American sprayed errors in the ninth game, offering the Serb three break points. Novak converted the second to forge a 5-4 lead and serve for the victory. Taylor made one last push and landed a forehand down the line winner to create a break chance. Novak erased it with a powerful serve and earned a match point with a smash winner. Djokovic missed it after a wayward backhand before creating the second with a booming serve. Novak converted it after Taylor’s backhand error to celebrate a place in the semi-final.
“Coming up next is the no. 1 player in the world after this tournament, 23-time Slam winner Novak Djokovic,” Cori Gauff said.
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