A first set lost, for the fourth time in the tournament, then a victory in four sets. Novak Djokovic got even closer to the calendar Grand Slam, dominating Matteo Berrettini on Wednesday in the quarterfinal of the US Open (5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3). After taming the Italian, 8th in the world, as in quarterfinal at the last Roland Garros and then in the final at Wimbledon, the 34-year-old Serbian has an appointment with the fit man on Friday: Alexander Zverev, South African striker Lloyd Harris in three sets (7-6 [6], 6-3, 6-4).
A set lost then a big boost: Djokovic has undoubtedly achieved his best match since the start of the fortnight against Berrettini! #USOpen #HomeOfTennis
⬇️ The summary of this meeting pic.twitter.com/HWdzJ6ereP
– Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) September 9, 2021
The German, 4th at ATP, had shattered the dream of “Golden Slam” for the best player in the world, by dominating him in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics, before covering himself with gold. Before this summit, “Djoko” had accumulated confidence. “I think it was a great performance overall,” he said after his victory over slugger Berrettini, supported on the Arthur-Ashe court by a noisy Italian colony. “The last three sets of this quarterfinal were“ the best I have played in the tournament, ”he also said.
The New York public also applauded the Serbian at the end of the match, which does not happen every day. But the feat he is aiming for is just as exceptional: no man since Australian Rod Laver in 1969 has managed to win the four biggest tournaments on the planet in the same year. If he wins this US Open, Djokovic will climb alone on the roof of the world, winning his 21st major, and thus overtaking Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (20 each).