Thursday 04 / September / 2025
New York: Novak Djokovic sets up a semi-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, defeating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to extend his perfect ATP Head2Head record against Fritz to 11-0.
With 14 semi-final appearances, Djokovic is currently tied with Jimmy Connors for the most in tournament history. In their ATP Head2Head series, Djokovic holds a 5-3 lead over Alcaraz, with wins in their previous two fixture.
The four-time US Open champion Djokovic has reached the semi-finals at all four majors this season, marking the seventh time in his career that he has achieved that feat, as per the ATP tour website.
Now, the 38-year-old Serbian will be looking to go even better as he eyes more records in New York - including the elusive 25th major.
Djokovic continued his relentless quest for history at the 2025 US Open, defeating Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals. The 38-year-old Serbian became the oldest man to reach the last eight at all four Grand Slams in a single season and now sets his sights on a record-extending 25th major.
Earlier in the day, Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the US Open semi-finals with an ultra-clean quarter-final win on Wednesday, dismissing Jiri Lehecka in style. The 22-year-old Spaniard hustled for a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory to reach the semi-finals in New York without dropping a set.
During the second set, Alcaraz, who lost to Lehecka at their Doha clash in February earlier this year, only gave up six points on his serve.
This is the third time Alcaraz has advanced to the semifinals in New York; he won the US Open in 2022. With a Tour-leading 59 wins and six titles in 2025, Alcaraz looks in good standing to better his career-best tally of 65 wins and six trophies from 2023.
"It was an incredibly close match. I thought I was lucky to really save some crucial break points in the second set," Djokovic said. "I think for most of the second and third sets, he was the better player. In these kinds of matches, a few points decide a winner."
"Particularly the end of the fourth set, that last game, that was nerve-wracking, honestly," he added.
On the women's side, top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus was through after 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.
"I tried my best to take the court today, but during the warm-up I felt again my knee, and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury," Vondrousova said in a statement.
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula delighted home fans by sweeping Czech player Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-3, advancing to her second consecutive US Open semifinal.
"I think I've been playing some really good tennis," Pegula said. "I've just been playing very solid, I've been having very good, quick starts, so I really wanted to do that today, especially against someone like her who's very dangerous."
