Djokovic battles past Fritz to set up US Open clash with Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic has done it again. Under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 38-year-old Serb showed why he has been one of the defining players of modern tennis. It was not an easy night by any means. Taylor Fritz, cheered on by a partisan New York crowd, came at him with everything he had. Fritz had chances, plenty of them, but Djokovic weathered the storm and ground out a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory that pushed him into yet another US Open semi-final.
The numbers only tell part of the story. Fritz earned 13 break points but converted just two, while Djokovic capitalized on four of his nine. Time and again, the American pressed and forced openings, but Djokovic found a way to hold on, mixing up his serve and drawing errors at the critical moments. When it mattered most, his experience showed. After three hours and twenty-four minutes, it was Fritz who faltered, his final double fault handing Djokovic the win.
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Djokovic admitted afterward that luck played a part, saying the match could have gone either way. For long stretches, especially in the second and third sets, Fritz was arguably the better player. The crowd sensed it, roaring with every Fritz winner, and jeering Djokovic when he protested about distractions during his serve. Yet, as has been the case so many times before, Djokovic refused to let the occasion consume him. He steadied himself, tightened up his baseline game, and seized the opportunity late in the fourth set.
Waiting for him now is Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard who has become the new face of men’s tennis. Alcaraz breezed past Jiri Lehecka in straight sets earlier in the day, extending his run without dropping a set at this year’s Open. He plays with flair, risk, and a love of entertaining the crowd—sometimes pulling off outrageous shots just for the joy of it. Already a US Open champion in 2022, Alcaraz is chasing his second title in New York and has the momentum of youth firmly on his side.
This semi-final will be more than just a tennis match; it is a meeting of generations. Djokovic, the last standing member of the legendary trio that included Federer and Nadal, is still chasing history with a possible 25th Grand Slam title. Alcaraz, meanwhile, is determined to carve his own path and prove that the sport truly belongs to a new era.
The contrast could not be sharper: the battle-hardened veteran against the fearless young star. Their previous encounters have already produced classics—Wimbledon finals, an Olympic showdown, and tight Grand Slam clashes. Now, Flushing Meadows will be the stage for their latest chapter. Djokovic may have silenced the American crowd against Fritz, but against Alcaraz, he faces not only a formidable opponent, but also the weight of time itself. The question is: can he hold it off for just a little longer?
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