2023-09-06 07:47:07
Djokovic is just two wins away from his 24th Grand Slam triumph. With his 47th semi-final in a Grand Slam tournament, the 13th in Flushing Meadows, he now secured this record alone and is now ahead of the Swiss Roger Federer.
Against Fritz, who had not given a sentence up to that point, Djokovic also won the eighth duel. In the first set alone, he managed three breaks against the fans’ favourite. In the third round, the second in the world rankings, who will take over the top position again after the tournament, wobbled several times, but in the end prevailed confidently.
Now a surprise man is waiting with Shelton. The 20-year-old won the spectacular quarter-final duel with Frances Tiafoe 6:2,3:6,7:6(7),6:2. In a game at varying levels, both US pros went on the offensive, showed top-class winning shots, but also made numerous mistakes. “It was an emotional struggle,” Shelton said.
Shortly before the start of the game, Tiafoe emphasized the special importance of the first quarterfinals of two African-American men in a Grand Slam tournament in the professional era. “It’s a big night for many reasons, obviously two Americans, two African Americans. I think it’s a big night for people of color who look up to me and Ben and know they can be in this position too,” Tiafoe said, speaking of a “pretty monumental moment.”
For Shelton, it’s now against Djokovic, who is 16 years his senior: “It couldn’t be better,” said the young American. Djokovic paid a lot of respect to his next opponent. “When his serve comes it’s very difficult to play against him, especially because he’s left-handed,” said the Serb.
In the women’s competition, Gauff and Muchova meet in the semifinals. The 19-year-old American outclassed the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, who had eliminated the world number one Iga Swiatek in the round of 16, with 6:0,6:2 in just 68 minutes. Crowd favorite Gauff is the first American teenager to reach the semifinals of the US Open since Serena Williams in 2001.
“It means a lot to me. To be mentioned in the same sentence with her is great. She is the greatest player in history,” said Gauff about the 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner. “She is my idol. I think if I had been told earlier that I would be in the same stats as them, I would have freaked out.”
Gauff, number six, can dream of her first Grand Slam title in New York, but in the semifinals Muchova is a player in top form. The 27-year-old Czech, number ten in the tournament, gave Sorana Cirstea no chance at 6:0,6:3. “She’s a great player, she has the home crowd on her side. It’s going to be very, very difficult,” Muchova said of Gauff.
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