Novak Djokovic on course for 24th grand slam
Novak Djokovic is expecting to be up against the crowd when he faces Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. And it could become a running theme for the Serb in New York, with one of two game Americans projected to meet him in the semis if he battles past Fritz.
Djokovic made light work of Borna Gojo on Sunday night, dispatching the Croatian in straight sets to book his spot in the last eight. The 36-year-old was seemingly in no mood for another five-setter, like he had against compatriot Laslo Djere in the third round.
With plenty of experience at playing the villain, not least because the 23-time Grand Slam champion is hardly ever an underdog, Djokovic should be well-equipped for the hostility set to come his way at Flushing Meadows.
And the veteran tennis star expects nothing less when he comes up against Fritz, admitting that it would be a surprise if the crowd don’t put him under the cosh.
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“I assume there’s going to be more support for Taylor Fritz in our next match,” Djokovic said. “Obviously eventually if I win, it will be the same against [Ben] Shelton or [Frances] Tiafoe in the semis. It’s expected.
“We’re in America playing against home players. It’s something that I would be surprised if it’s otherwise, to be honest. So I know what I’m expecting, and I’m going to get ready for that mentally.
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“Again, matches are only going to get tougher from now on. It’s the quarter-finals of a slam. I think it’s important for a very big and important country in the tennis world, like America is, to have three tennis players from America in the quarter-finals of a slam.
“It’s important for this tournament. It’s one of the four majors, one of the four most important events in the history of our sport.”
Djokovic has a flawless head-to-head record against Fritz, with the last of his seven wins coming at the Cincinnati Masters just over two weeks ago.
The three-time US Open champion should therefore go into his upcoming clash full of confidence, as he looks to set up another blockbuster meeting with Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Flushing Meadows.
The Spaniard is yet to put a foot wrong in his quest to retain his title from 12 months ago. And it would be a serious statement of intent for Alcaraz to defeat Djokovic again, as he did at Wimbledon earlier this summer.
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