Djokovic after defeating Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals

Djokovic is the first to qualify for the semi-finals

Novak Djokovic was the first player to reach the semifinals at the US Open in New York. The Serbian beat American Taylor Fritz 6:1, 6:4, 6:4 in just over two and a half hours. Fritz, ninth in the world rankings, who knocked out Dominik Stricker of Bern in three sets in the previous round, also left the court as a loser in his eighth duel with Djokovic – his seventh time without winning a set. Fritz was only able to use two of the twelve break balls.

Djokovic, who has reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 47th time and surpassed Roger Federer, is just two wins away from his 24th title. And in the fight for a place in the final, he will certainly have to deal with one of the local players again on Friday. He will face either No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe or youngster Ben Shelton.

Gauff kicks Ostapenko off the field

In the women’s tournament, Coco Gauff was the first player to reach the semi-finals. She knocked American No. 6 Jelena Ostapenko off the field with a 6-0, 6-2 win. The Latvian player had previously surprisingly defeated world number one Iga Swiatek in the round of 16. However, the 2017 French Open winner had no chance against 19-year-old Gauff. In 67 minutes on the field, Ostapenko committed 36 unforced errors. After reaching the final of the French Open last year, Gauff reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time. There, on Thursday, she will meet Czech Karolina Muchova or Romanian Sorana Cirstea, defeating Belinda Bencic.

Jabeur, who reached the finals last year, failed

Ons Jabeur, fifth in the world rankings, failed in the round of 16 as a contender for the next title in the US Open. The 29-year-old Tunisian lost to Chinese Zeng Qinwen 2:6, 4:6 in 82 minutes on Tuesday night. Jabeur reached the final of the Grand Slam tournament in New York last year. In addition to top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, world number three Jessica Pegula of the USA was also eliminated in the top-16 round.

Jaber had complained of influenza during the tournament and appeared under the weather in all of his participation. The 20-year-old Cheng has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career. She will now face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who became number one in the world after the tournament and easily beat Russian Darja Kasatkina 6:1 and 6:3.

Duel Russian friends

Russian friends Daniil Medvedev and Andrei Roblio will meet in the quarterfinals of the US Open. Medvedev won the round of 16 on Tuesday night over Australian Alex de Minaur after initial problems 2:6, 6:4, 6:1 and 6:2. Roblo had earlier defeated Briton Jack Draper 6:3, 3:6, 6:3 and 6:4.

Medvedev won the Grand Slam tournament in New York in 2021 and is now at least in the quarter-finals for the fourth time in the past five years. Roblio reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the fourth time in his career. However, it was not enough for him to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.

Zverev wrestles with Sinner

Alexander Zverev has reached the quarter-finals of the US Open for the third time in a row in a thrilling tennis tournament. The German prevailed on Tuesday night after 4:41 hours with times of 6:4, 3:6, 6:2, 4:6, 6:3 against slight favorite Jannik Sinner of Italy. Zverev will now face last year’s winner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. For 26-year-old Zverev, this is the tenth appearance in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam. (asthma/sda/dpa)

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