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Unbeaten in US Open quarterfinals, Djokovic sets Grand Slam semifinal record

  • Matt Trollope

Records continue to tumble as Novak Djokovic continues to play tennis.

Djokovic, who will return to world No.1 at the conclusion of the US Open, routed American No.1 Taylor Fritz on Tuesday to progress to the semifinals.

His 6-1 6-4 6-4 win at Arthur Ashe Stadium means he is a perfect 8-0 in the pair’s head-to-head series.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Writing his own history

READ MORE: Gauff drops the hammer to reach first US Open semifinal

It also means he is undefeated in 13 US Open quarterfinal matches – a stage of the tournament he first reached in 2007.

And by progressing to the semifinals, he sets an Open-era men’s record of 47 Grand Slam semifinal appearances, surpassing Roger Federer’s mark of 46.

MOST MAJOR SFs AMONG MEN IN THE OPEN ERA

Novak Djokovic

47

Roger Federer

46

Rafael Nadal

38

Jimmy Connors

31

Ivan Lendl

28

Andre Agassi

26

Ken Rosewall

25

Pete Sampras

23

Andy Murray

21

 

“There’s a lot of things that I’m very grateful for, obviously it’s a huge opportunity every single time I step out on the court, at this age and this stage of my life,” 36-year-old Djokovic said, when told of the milestone.

“I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll get, so I’m trying to enjoy as much as I possibly can.”

Djokovic dropped the first two sets of his third-round match against Laslo Djere, but has since won nine consecutive sets to progress to semis in New York.

There, he will face the winner of Tuesday night’s all-American quarterfinal between Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton.

RELATED: US Open quarterfinalists Fritz, Tiafoe, Shelton nearing 20-year first

Djokovic has reached the semifinals at all four majors in 2023, something he has now done in six seasons.

With this achievement, he again surpasses Federer – who had reached all four major semifinals in five separate seasons – for the outright lead among men in the Open era.

Season

AO / RG / WI / US (result)

2011

W /  SF /  W  /  W

2012

W /   F  /  SF /  F

2013

W /  SF /  F   /  F

2015

W /   F  /  W  /  W

2021

W /  W  /  W  /  F

2023

W /  W  /  F  /  SF*

*Final result TBD

 

Should Djokovic win through to the final, it would be his 10th appearance in the title match at the US Open.

This, coupled with his 10 Australian Open finals, would make him the first man in the Open era to reach 10 finals at multiple Grand Slam tournaments.