Novak Djokovic Reaches Record 47 Major Semifinal with Straight Sets Win Over Taylor Fritz

Novak Djokovic in action during a men’s singles quarterfinal match at the 2023 US Open, Tuesday, Sep. 5, 2023 in Flushing, NY. (Darren Carroll/USTA)

(September 5, 2023) FLUSHING, NY – Novak Djokovic now stands alone with reaching the most major semifinals. The Serbian, who will move back up to No, 1 after the US Open reached a record -breaking 47 major final four, when he dismissed No. 9 seed, American Taylor Fritz 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday in 90+ degree weather in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 36-year-old Djokovic is now 8-0 against Fritz and 13-0 in US Open quarterfinal matches.

“I think it was a great match again,” Djokovic told media. “We both struggled I think physically a lot, especially in the first set, set and a half. Very humid conditions. Just sweating a lot, you know, reaching the towel basically more or less after every point.

“Yeah, the first set was 6-1, but I think in terms of the time played, it was almost an hour. Then, you know, in the second set I felt like he started playing better, missing less, hitting his serves, hitting the spots better.

“But in the crucial moments I guess I managed to just stay tough and find the right shots, make him play always an extra shot. Make him run. I know that on the move he’s not really the most comfortable. I think I have done well, except a few games here and there where I struggled.

“But, you know, a very solid performance and I’m really pleased with the way I played.”

Taylor Fritz in action during a men’s singles quarterfinal match at the 2023 US Open, Tuesday, Sep. 5, 2023 in Flushing, NY. (Darren Carroll/USTA)

“Thoughts on the match, ” Fritz, said. More like I needed to do a lot better on my serve. I need to serve much better and not just give away so many loose points on my serve.

“I feel like as far as returning goes, I can’t actually ask for that much more. Forget about the first set, but the second and third, I was in a lot of return games. Got breaks both sets. Chances to get more than one break, like, you know, I can’t ask for much more than that. If I could actually serve I think to the standards that I know I can serve to, then, you know, then maybe I could work with something, it would be a closer match.

“Obviously Novak being Novak, he’ll make me feel like I’m serving, you know, worse than I am, but, in other matches I wouldn’t get, I guess, as punished for missing so many first serves. I can maybe get away with it, but with him, I have to serve better than 50%, and I have to hit my spots better. That’s just how it is.”

Djokovic will play another American in the semifinals, the winner of the night match between No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton.