2024-01-23 10:50:17
01/23/2024 06:37am. Updated on 01/23/2024 07:50am.
The Serbian Novak Djokovicthe 1st in the ATP ranking, did not wrinkle in the intense heat of Melbourne and He defeated the American Taylor Fritz for the ninth time, now 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-2 and 6-3, in three hours and 44 minutesto become the first semi-finalist of the Australian Open 2024.
His rival will be known following the conclusion of the clash between the Italian Jannik Sinner (3) and the Russian Andrey Rublev (5), in the last scheduled shift of the night on the Rod Laver Arena center court.
The one from Belgrade got his eleventh pass to the semifinals in Melbourne Park and equaled the local Jack Crawford, in a classification led by the Swiss Roger Federer with 15 appearances in the semifinals.
The selfie that was made by Kabbalah. (AFP)
Say 33
In this way, Djokovic, ten-time champion in Australia, andHe extended his streak in the tournament to 33 consecutive victorieswhere his last defeat occurred in 2018 at the hands of Korean Chung Hyeon in the round of 16.
The Serbian did not play in the 2022 edition due to his remembered controversy with the Australian authorities, who deported him for failing to comply with the immigration rules in force at that time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With this victory, only the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz can surpass him in the ranking (if Nole loses in the semi-final and the Hispanic reaches the final or if Alcaraz is champion).
Djokovic waits for a crestfallen Fritz to greet him. (AP)
The heat, a separate game
“I suffered a lot during the first two sets, I was suffocating from the bottom of the trackHe was on my heels in every rally, Plus it was very hot. Physically it was very hard, emotionally too,” Djokovic said. to Nick Kyrgios, who interviewed him at the Rod Laver Arena.
During two sets, the first lasting an hour and a half, on a day of sun and high temperatures for the first time in the fortnight, Djokovic and Fritz transferred equality on the court to the scoreboard.
Only the first game offered the tone of what was to come: 16 minutes and 25 seconds, with Fritz saving three breaking points.
The 26-year-old American continued to survive on the wire, beating another five break points in the following games, until he had two set points at 6-5, but Djokovic defended his serve and took the set to a tie-break. ‘, in which it swept.
Unable to break Fritz’s serve, Djokovic – 0 of 15 in breaks converted in the first two sets! – paid for an early break with the set.
At that moment the tennis players had been on the court for almost two and a half hours. The followingnoon fell in Melbourne and the temperature dropped, which helped Djokovic to compose himself and finally score his first break, in the 160th minute of the match. It was the turning point to achieve victory.
Video: the point that left Djokovic in the semifinals
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