Novak Djokovic returns to the US Open final. Two years after his failure in his quest for a calendar Grand Slam against Daniil Medvedev, the Serb did not lag behind Ben Shelton (6-3, 6-2, 7-6 in 2:39) and will play a tenth final in New -York. This is his 22nd victory in a Grand Slam semi-final out of his last 23 appearances in the last four. The future world number one will face Carlos Alcaraz or Daniil Medvedev for a twenty-fourth major title.
Faced with an opponent who was playing the very first semi-final of his career on the ATP circuit and who did not win two consecutive matches in a tournament outside the Australian Open and during this US Open, Novak Djokovic quickly took the ascendancy. Ben Shelton created an illusion during his first two service games, before inexorably breaking down. Despite a burst of pride at the end of the third set, the American ended up giving in. Faced with the quality of recovery and defense of the Serb, Shelton forced his second balls and his entire game (5 double faults, 43 unforced errors).
Novak Djokovic’s defense extinguishes Shelton’s revolt
Shelton hoped, Djokovic struggled
The counter blocked at a single unforced error until 5-3, Novak Djokovic experienced a first alert by saving a break point at the end of this set, before taking the lead on a forehand in the net of his opponent (6-3, 34 mins). For his 100th match at the US Open, Djokovic did Djokovic. Solid from the baseline (10 unforced errors in the first two sets, 25 in total) and unstoppable in defense, he cracked the young 20-year-old American to fly away (6-2, 44 minutes).
Djokovic rolls out and pockets the 2nd set
And as he continued to unfold his score without a false note with a third set entry break, the Serb stretched for no apparent reason at 4-3. Shelton was more patient in the rally to catch up before walking on water like in his previous matches, including a powerful forehand at the end of the race to turn 5-4 in his favor before get a set point that Djokovic saved with a winning serve.
An icy handshake to conclude
A missed match point, a new break against him while he was serving for the match and Djokovic found himself embarked on a perilous exercise but one that he particularly likes: the tie-break. In great difficulty behind his second serve in this last set (24% of points won), the future world number one applied himself to pass a maximum of first serves in this decisive game.
Not only did Djokovic checkmate Shelton, but he stole his celebration!
Deprived of free points on serve against the best receiver on the circuit, the future 19th in the world finally gave in in three sets (7-6, 1h21). And it was with a (very) cold handshake that this first semi-final ended after Djokovic imitated Shelton’s celebration following his quarter-final success. Anyway, the Serb will be there in the final on Sunday against Alcaraz or Medvedev, the last two players to beat him in the Grand Slam final.