NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic swiftly seized a two-set advantage against Taylor Fritz, a familiar rival he consistently overcomes, inching closer to the semifinals—a stage he regularly graces at the US Open. In a charming gesture, he blew kisses to the audience supporting the last American competitor in the tournament on Tuesday night.
This electrifying match showcased a dynamic back-and-forth between Djokovic and the passionate crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium. With work still to be done, he ultimately secured a hard-fought victory, closing at 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. This win marked Djokovic’s 11th consecutive victory over Fritz, propelling him to his record-extending 53rd Grand Slam semifinal, including an impressive 14 at Flushing Meadows.
“I was just trying to hang in there,” Djokovic reflected. “Some days, you just need to dig deep.”
After requiring three match points to seal the deal, the Serbian slumped slightly, hands on his knees, after the first two points turned into grueling rallies won by Fritz. The match concluded in an unexpected twist, courtesy of a double-fault from the No. 4 seed, marking the continuation of the drought for U.S. male singles champions at any major since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003.
“Ultimately, that’s what distinguishes the great players,” Fritz commented on Djokovic. “They clinch the crucial points.”
On Friday, Djokovic will step into his fourth Slam semifinal of the year, facing off against the five-time major champion, Carlos Alcaraz, who hasn’t dropped a set all tournament. Alcaraz triumphed over No. 20 Jiri Lehecka earlier Tuesday with a decisive 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
In their head-to-head encounters, Djokovic leads Alcaraz 5-3, having won their last two meetings—including the Australian Open quarterfinals this January and the final at the Paris Olympics last year, fulfilling his long-standing dream of winning a gold medal for Serbia.
The last two men’s quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday: Alex de Minaur against Felix Auger-Aliassime, followed by defending champion Jannik Sinner facing Lorenzo Musetti in an all-Italian duel.
On Tuesday night, both players donned all-black attire—shirts, shorts, socks, and footwear. Even Djokovic’s wristbands were black, while Fritz’s headband was initially worn upside-down, displaying the sponsor’s white letter branding awkwardly before he adjusted it after the second set.
While their outfits were similar, the gameplay told a different story. Djokovic, a seasoned champion with four of his 24 major titles secured at the US Open, displayed his trademark style against Fritz—masterful returns, tactical control during extended rallies, and pinpoint serving, particularly in clutch moments.
In essence, the 38-year-old Djokovic consistently anticipated moves ahead of the 27-year-old Fritz, whose serve did show improvement in the latter sets.
Djokovic won 25 out of 42 points that lasted at least nine strokes, saved 11 of the 13 break points he faced, and dominated 10 of the 11 points when he opted for a serve-and-volley strategy.
Fritz started a bit shaky, failing to deliver his best serve or groundstrokes. This could have been attributed to facing Djokovic and their lopsided history, or perhaps the pressure of the stage itself.
Complicating matters further was the schedule change due to the cancellation of the women’s quarterfinal between Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova, who withdrew due to a knee injury.
Djokovic swiftly capitalized on Fritz’s initial service game, propelling himself to a 3-0 lead that quickly turned into a two-set advantage. Although Fritz crafted a way into the match and made it more competitive, he never managed to take the lead.
Throughout the match, Djokovic engaged in playful banter with the spectators rooting for his opponent. It’s noteworthy that many in the stands also rallied behind the man who holds the record for the most time at No. 1 in tennis history.
However, there were disturbances, with some fans applauding faults from Djokovic—a frowned-upon behavior in tennis culture.
The tension peaked in the third set as the audience grew more vocal following faults after 10:30 p.m. Djokovic posed a question to chair umpire Damian Dumusois, “What action will you take?” and then humorously mimicked the umpire’s recurring instructions, “Thank you. Please. Thank you. Please.”
Before long, Fritz found momentum, executing a forehand winner to break for a 3-1 lead in the set, which he would eventually take.
Nonetheless, Djokovic delivered when it mattered the most.
“He served better and made fewer mistakes,” Fritz admitted. “He played exceptionally well in the fourth set.”
