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Novak Djokovic shrugged off stifling heat and Taylor Fritz 6-1 6-4 6-4 to breeze into the US Open semi-finals and stay on course for a fourth Flushing Meadows crown that would see him match Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 grand slams.
With temperatures once again nudging towards 38 degrees celsius, Djokovic turned in a cool, clinical effort, improving his record against American opposition at the US Open to a perfect 12-0.
While Fritz’s grand slam came to an end, the US is guaranteed at least one player in the men’s semi-finals with Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton meeting in an all-American clash on Arthur Ashe later on Tuesday with Djokovic waiting to take on the winner for a spot in Sunday’s final.
“It’s expected of course that people are backing the home player and there is nothing wrong with that,” said Djokovic. “I actually like the energy, like the atmosphere on centre court here.
“Day sessions, night sessions, people are getting into it.
“I’m fine with that. I thrive on that energy and try to use it as a fuel.
“I’ve been playing on this court for so many years, so many epic matches, I can’t wait for another one in a few days time.”
Fritz could not keep the party going, although the 25-year-old had his opportunities but could convert only two of 12 break chances while committing 51 unforced errors, almost double his opponent’s 26.
Fritz had lost all seven career meetings with Djokovic and never beaten a top-10 opponent at a grand slam but rolled into the quarter-finals in sensational form, the only player to not drop a set and broken only once in 50 service games.
Djokovic wasted no time ending both those runs, breaking the American three times and then taking the first set with a booming ace.
Fritz finally held serve to open the second but was soon feeling the pressure again with Djokovic breaking the ninth seed a fourth time to go ahead 2-1 and close out the set in the same emphatic style with an ace.
With the crowd getting behind him, Fritz would offer up more resistance in the third but could not find a way back, with the 36-year-old Serb getting the decisive break at 5-4 and then holding serve – improving to 13-0 in US Open quarter-finals.
American sixth seed Coco Gauff bolstered her hopes of securing a maiden grand slam title as she enjoyed a stress-free 6-0 6-2 win over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals.
Gauff, whose lead-up to the US Open included hardcourt titles in Washington and Cincinnati, converted six of her seven break points and dropped serve just once during a steamy 67-minute match at Arthur Ashe Stadium where the temperature rose above 32.2 degrees.
“It feels great, so happy,” Gauff said during her on-court interview on Tuesday. “Last year I lost in the quarter-final stage and I wanted to do better this year.
“I am happy and ready to get back to work for the next one.”
Ostapenko entered the match full of confidence having upset world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the previous round but against Gauff the misfiring Latvian 20th seed could not find her range and delivered an error-filled performance.
Gauff was in control from the start and showcased excellent court coverage while delivering a steady stream of balls deep into the corners en route to capturing the first set in 20 minutes and limiting Ostapenko to seven points.
Former French Open champion Ostapenko, playing in her first US Open quarter-final, finally got on the board with a break to level the second set at 1-1 but Gauff never wavered and broke back for a 2-1 lead with a backhand crosscourt winner.
Ostapenko held serve for the first time 49 minutes into the match but 19-year-old Gauff went up a double break for a 5-2 lead before closing out the encounter on her serve in a game in which she had to come back after falling behind 0-30.
By the time it was over, Ostapenko had 36 unforced errors compared to 14 for Gauff.
With the win, Gauff avenged her round of 16 loss to the Latvian at this year’s Australian Open that left the American in tears.
Despite delivering a lopsided win to reach the second semi-final of her career, Gauff said she never felt comfortable on the court against Ostapenko.
“I know the game she plays, she has ability to come back no matter the scoreline, so I was just really trying to get every point, trying to play every ball in,” said Gauff.
“It’s really tough against her because you can’t really be aggressive, so I was trying my best to be aggressive when I could and most of the time I was just trying to get the ball deep.”
Up next for Gauff, who is the youngest American to reach the US Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001, will be either Czech 10th seed and French Open finalist Karolina Muchova or Romanian 30th seed Sorana Cirstea.
© AAP
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