2023-09-05 20:40:15
“I’m going to enjoy watching them on television tonight, from my sofa, with my physio, drinks and popcorn, legs in the air to recover, commented the Djoker. It’s going to be great to watch them and we’ll see what happens on Friday.“, he commented.
Djokovic became the sole record holder of 47 Grand Slam semi-finals played, now one step ahead of Roger Federer. At Flushing Meadows, only Jimmy Connors did better (14).
He is also the only player to have reached the last four of the four Majors this season (he was already the only one to have reached the quarters four times in 2023).
Despite the heat on Tuesday – or perhaps because of it – Djokovic did not stay long (2h35) in the steam room of the Arthur-Ashe court, the roof of which had been half closed to provide shade on the ground.
“I cut my hair and it helped me, I was more aerodynamic“, he joked, before becoming serious once more: “The conditions were very hot and humid, but it was the same for both of them. It is to resist that we train“.
Fritz, who battled five sets once morest Djokovic in their only previous Grand Slam encounter, in the 3rd round of the 2020 Australian Open as the Serb tore his abs, was never threatening on Tuesday.
He managed to take the serve of his opponent once in the first set to pick up at 2-1 following giving up his first face-off. But therefollowing, the games paraded in favor of Djokovic who scored four in a row to pocket this first round.
The Serb managed the break at the start of the second set and did not let go of his advantage, victoriously defending the four break points conceded.
In the third set, he broke to lead 4-3, but on a bad service game he allowed Fritz to equalize. He then pocketed the next two games and the match.
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