(September 3, 2023) FLUSHING, NY – Novak Djokovic continued his quest for his 24th major title by downing qualifier Borna Gojo 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 on Sunday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The No. seed had a much easier time in this fourth-round match than his last match which took him a full five sets to win.

“Just glad to get through in straight sets,” he said after the match. The Serbian will jump back up to the top spot at the end of the tournament.

 “I like how I entered the match today. Good intensity, great first set. Obviously I didn’t want to in a way repeat the first set or first couple sets from the third round where I was a little bit flat, I would say, and wasn’t bringing the intensity that I brought tonight. That made a difference, especially in the first set.

“Yeah, second set was quite close. He made an early break. I came back. Obviously one of the keys to the win today was try to neutralize his serve, get as many serves back in play as possible, make him run. He’s a big guy. Obviously moves well for his height, but is not maybe the best mover. I knew that’s where tactically my chance is.

“I knew that’s where tactically my chance is. I think I’ve done well, particularly in the second and third set in some key moments, held my nerve. I served well, and read his serve, made him play always an extra shot. I’m pleased to go through in straights.”

Djokovic will be taking on the top American in Taylor Fritz, the 9th seed for a place in the semifinals. “He has improved so much over the years,” Djokovic said after the match. “Obviously the matches are only going to get tougher from now onwards. I’m ready.”

Fritz beat Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I’m really happy,” Fritz said about the win. “I feel like from the ground I’ve been playing good tennis all week. Then I feel like in the second and third set today, serve started coming together. I feel like how I closed out the match, like the last two sets, I feel like my serve started feeling like the best it’s felt.

“Yeah, just in time I feel like everything’s coming together.”

“I need to play within myself and trust that if I’m playing well, then that’s going to be enough, and I don’t need to kind of do anything extra,” said Fritz.

“Novak’s Novak. It’s tough. I said it on court: he’s gotten me seven times. There’s no one on tour that has any kind of a record like that against me, so I’m hoping one of these times I’ve got to get him. US Open quarters would be a pretty good time to get him.”

Djokovic was asked about what Fritz needs to do to beat him. He responded:

“I’m not going to talk about what he needs to do to have a chance against me. I’m sure he’s going to try to figure that out with his coach.

“I’m going to get ready obviously for that match as any other match, doing my analytics, watching the last match we had against each other just few weeks ago in Cincinnati where I played a really, really, really good, really solid match, and won in straight sets. I’ll take some positives out of that.

“We know each other’s game pretty well. I’ve played him quite a few times actually in the last couple years. Yeah, big game. Serve and forehand are two biggest weapons, no doubt. But he has improved so much. He’s also playing very well on clay, which maybe wasn’t the case first years of his professional career.

“He’s working hard. He’s got a great coach in his corner. I’m sure he’s going to be very pumped and motivated to win. It’s going to be great atmosphere on the stadium and let’s see what happens.”