Djokovic units up Cincinnati semi-final with Zverev as US Open prep ramps up

Aug 19, 2023 at 11:09 AM
Djokovic units up Cincinnati semi-final with Zverev as US Open prep ramps up

is into the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters after comfortably seeing off Taylor Fritz. The Serb will face within the closing 4, and the German has been receiving steering from reigning champion throughout his run on the match.

Returning to the courtroom for the primary time since dropping to Alcaraz at SW19, Djokovic has been nearly flawless in Ohio. A walkover towards Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was adopted by a straight-sets win over Gael Monfils earlier than his quarter-final towards Fritz.

Djokovic made gentle work of the world No 9 on Friday night, coming by means of 6-0 6-4 in little over an hour as his preparation for the upcoming US Open continues. The 23-time Grand Slam champion remains to be on the right track to fulfill Alcaraz within the closing, the place he would have a shot at redemption after coming off second greatest on the All England Club.

“Obviously being the No 1 American, [Fritz] gets a lot of crowd support,” Djokovic mentioned after his newest win. “I just managed to get out of the blocks really strong and play an almost perfect, flawless first set.

“Then I began off actually poorly within the second and handed him the break, however from 2-4 down, I performed 4 actually stable video games within the second. Just total an important efficiency.”

Zverev is up next for Djokovic, and the 26-year-old is in fine form after notching wins over the likes of Grigor Dimitrov and Adrian Mannarino to make it to the semis in Cincinnati.

“He advised me that I had simply come off a really snug win towards Daniil, and he requested me what was the fitting tactic? How did I do it? And you recognize, I’m a pleasant child… I believe I’m a bit naive in that means, so I advised him how I approached the match.”

In distinction to Djokovic, Alcaraz has needed to expend loads of vitality to make it to the semi-finals in Cincinnati. Each of his matches towards Jordan Thompson, Tommy Paul and Max Purcell went to 3 units, with big-serving Hubert Hurkacz up subsequent.