Dancing dad Djokovic sets up U.S. Open semifinal clash with Alcaraz after win over Fritz

Novak Djokovic reasserted his dominance over American Taylor Fritz with a 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4 victory on Tuesday to arrange a U.S. Open semifinal towards Carlos Alcaraz, celebrating the win with a dance devoted to his daughter on her birthday.

The 38-year-old arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium having overwhelmed Fritz in all 10 of their earlier conferences however needed to battle laborious to maneuver previous final 12 months’s runner-up and keep on observe for a file twenty fifth main title.

“It was an extremely shut match. It was actually anyone’s match. I believed I used to be fortunate to actually save essential breakpoints within the second set,” Djokovic stated.

“For many of the second and third set he was the higher participant. In these sorts of matches, few factors resolve the winner. It was happily approaching my facet, significantly on the finish of the fourth set.”

After a robust begin, Djokovic got here underneath intense strain within the ninth sport of the match and saved 5 breakpoints to shut out the opening set on serve earlier than a shocking crosscourt winner from deep sealed one other tight maintain within the subsequent set.

Fourth seed Fritz, the final American man left within the draw, lastly broke on his eleventh try however did not take advantage of it and shortly discovered himself two units down.

The American confirmed nice resolve to win the third set with improved serving however that was it for the comeback.

Djokovic held to like for a 5-4 lead within the fourth set and squandered two match factors within the following sport earlier than closing it out due to a double fault from Fritz, making it 16-0 towards People on the U.S. Open.

“That final sport was nerve-wracking, actually, a tricky one for Taylor to complete up with a double fault. He did not deserve that, however nice battle and nice event for him,” stated the Serb.

“I did not really feel like I used to be dominating from again of the courtroom. In lots of my service video games, I used to be simply making an attempt to remain alive and battle for each ball … I am pleased with the battle I put in. I put on my coronary heart on my sleeve for this sport, I am nonetheless having fun with it.”

Djokovic, who’s searching for his fifth title at Flushing Meadows, celebrated the win with a dance for his daughter Tara.

“The dance in the long run, she’s going to charge me tomorrow on how good the dance was,” Djokovic stated.

“She informed me how one can dance. It is Okay-Pop Demon Hunters … Soda Pop is the identify of the music. Clearly it is a huge factor globally for youngsters and for youths, however I did not learn about it earlier than.

“My daughter informed me a couple of months in the past about it. So we’re at dwelling doing choreography and that is one in every of them. Hopefully I will make her smile when she wakes up tomorrow morning.”