Novak Djokovic made it through to the US Open semi-finals for the 13th time in his career after extinguishing the challenge of American No 1 Taylor Fritz on Tuesday.
Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer by reaching a 47th Grand Slam semi-final and he also became the first man in ATP rankings history to record 250 career wins over top-10 players by easing to a 6-1 6-4 6-4 victory against Fritz on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The ninth seed hit more winners – 33 to Djokovic’s 25 – but he was simply ground down by the Serbian with a grand total of 51 unforced errors telling its own story.
After beating Fritz, Djokovic led the crowd in a rendition of the Beastie Boys’ Fight For Your Right!
Djokovic, 36, also becomes the oldest semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors (39) in 1991.
He said: “It’s expected that people are backing the home player, there’s nothing wrong with that. I like the atmosphere here, I’m fine with that and I thrive on that energy.
“I’ve been playing on this court for many years, played many epic matches, and I’m looking forward to another one in a few days.
“It’s a huge opportunity every time I step out on the court and at my age I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll get.”
Djokovic, chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, will face another American in the semi-finals with unseeded Ben Shelton upsetting fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe 6-2 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.
How Djokovic made the semi-finals…
With temperatures once again nudging towards 38C, Djokovic turned in a cool, clinical effort, improving his record against American opposition at the US Open to a perfect 12-0.
After easing through the first two sets, Fritz levelled the third set at 4-4 which only prompted Djokovic to shoo some of his own supporters out of one of the executive suites.
But the Serb immediately hit back, the three-time winner then saving another break point before completing the victory in two hours and 35 minutes to silence a partisan American crowd.
Djokovic later revealed he did not know the identity of the spectator he had gestured to leave the box, after admitting the man put him off by yelling during a point.
“Yeah. Yeah, he did. He was actually in the box where some of my friends were,” added Djokovic.
“I don’t know who the guy was, but yeah, I was pretty annoyed by him at that point. I was communicating with my friends to have a little chat with him.”
Henman: How Djokovic broke down Fritz’s second serve
Sky Sports analyst Tim Henman looks at how Djokovic neutralised Fritz’s second serve and broke down his opponent to make it through to the semi-finals.
Tim Henman analyses how Djokovic punished Fritz’s second serve to progress through to the semi-finals
Top 5 points
Check out Djokovic and Fritz’s top shots from their meeting
How Shelton set up a meeting with Djokovic…
Shelton became only the sixth American male in the Open Era to secure 10 Grand Slam match wins in a season before turning 21, after Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick.
The match against Tiafoe was the first major quarter-final of the Open era, which dates to 1968, between two African-American men.
And it was 20-year-old Shelton who moved to within one match of reaching his first Grand Slam final in just his fifth appearance at the majors.
He came out all guns blazing, with his groundstrokes struck with such venom they drew gasps from the capacity crowd inside Arthur Ashe with celebrities Emma Watson, Spike Lee and Anna Wintour all in attendance.
After holding his first two serves Tiafoe had no answers to his opponent’s explosive forehand as Shelton claimed five straight games to snatch opening set.
But there was no panic from Tiafoe as he got to grips with Shelton’s big swings, which started to miss the mark.
He would get his first break chances of the match in the sixth game of the second and levelled at a set apiece.
Shelton reflected on how far he’s come in his short professional career when he spoke to Sky Sports’ host Gigi Salmon at Flushing Meadows
In a wild third set the momentum seemed to swing on every serve with six breaks, three from each player, in the first eight games. Unsurprisingly it went to a tie-break that was just as unpredictable with Shelton taking back-to-back double faults, including one on set point, before finally winning it 9-7.
There was no mistaking where the momentum was going into the fourth with Shelton hammering a backhand winner down the line that a flat-footed Tiafoe could only watch to clinch the early break.
Another break at 5-2 and Tiafoe’s fate was sealed with Shelton holding serve for the win.
“I felt like I left it all out here tonight. It was an emotional battle,” said Shelton, who was ranked 165 a year ago.
Asked whether he knew who he was play next, Shelton smiled and said: “He’s won maybe 23 of these? Something like that?” – referring to Djokovic’s total number of Grand Slams. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”
The US Open on Sky Sports
Watch the US Open live and exclusive on Sky Sports up until September 10. All courts will be available to watch for the first time
Sky welcomes tennis back to its channels, adding to the existing sports portfolio and reaffirming the broadcaster as the home of live sport in the UK & Ireland.
Sky Sports’ new mixed reality studio features multiple custom-built LED screens, integrated light ‘sabres’, and an open canopy roof, making the space alive with colour and energy to reflect the vibrancy of the last Grand Slam of the year.
Relive Andy Murray’s rollercoaster career at the US Open, which saw him claim his maiden major title in 2012
With integrated AR capabilities, a versatile LED floor, and a ‘fourth wall’, the viewer will be transported to the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a 360-degree immersive environment. Our tennis experts will take the viewer into the eyes of the players for expert Hawkeye analysis and insight as the tournament progresses.
The technology involved allows us to add an entirely new dimension and will bring customers closer to the action.
Highlights of matches will be available across Sky Sports TV and our social media platforms.
Video highlights will also be available on the Sky Sports website and app, where there will also be a daily live text commentary on the Sky Sports website and app, as well as live scores, reports, analysis and features.
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