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The US Open waited 52 years for a man to have a chance to win the Grand Slam, so what’s a few extra hours?
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, unbeaten in the best of five games this year as he pursues the Grand Slam, lingered again in the long-lasting game on Wednesday night at the Arthur Ashe Stadium before shifting to a game of the sixth seed Matteo Berrettini, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Djokovic’s first set against Berrettini was the third time in a row he lost the opener, and also his most grueling set of the tournament. The first game lasted 14 points; the sixth game needed 20 points. Although Djokovic was shattered in Game 11 on a forehand from Berrettini and lost the set shortly thereafter, it was Berrettini who had to leave the pitch to change his outfit soaked in sweat for barely an hour. and 17 minutes after the start of the match. .
Djokovic’s detours during this tournament did not lead to discouragement, but to discovery.
The first set against Berrettini was the fourth set Djokovic lost in this tournament. As always, Djokovic took the information he gleaned and reprogrammed his game with increased precision. After making 17 unforced errors in the first set, he only touched three in the second and three in the third. Djokovic committed five unforced errors in the fourth set.
By dint of will and perseverance, he turned the game in his favor and even won over some of the reluctant crowd. When he held 5-2 in the third, after saving a break point from Berrettini and extinguishing any hope of a comeback, Djokovic brought his hand to his ear, begging the crowd to recognize his indomitable as he got closer. Grand Slam, and a record 21st career major singles title.
After taking a break early in the fourth set, Djokovic appeared to shift down a gear to reach the finish, winning just two more points on the return to save energy. When he wrapped up the win after three hours and 27 minutes, Djokovic headed quickly for the net, wasting little energy on an elaborate celebration. It took him several seconds to find the wristwatch he was wearing for the field interview in order to fulfill the sponsor’s obligations.
“I was locked up, really, from the start of the second set,” Djokovic said in his interview on the pitch. “I took my tennis to a different level. These are the three best sets I’ve played so far in the tournament, that’s for sure.
Djokovic has won the first 26 of 28 matches he needs to complete the Grand Slam, but his 27th test could prove to be one of the toughest. On Friday night, Djokovic faces fourth-seed Alexander Zverev whose 16-game winning streak includes a victory over Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics last month.
Zverev only needed two hours and six minutes to clinch his own quarter-final victory hours earlier, avoiding delays by saving a set point in the tie-breaker of his 7-6 (6 ), 6-3, 6-4 against Lloyd Harris.
Where Djokovic has been effective, Zverev has been effective. Zverev only needed nine hours and 23 minutes to complete his five wins here; Djokovic needed 13 hours and 52 minutes.
At his press conference on Wednesday, Zverev showed confidence but acknowledged the task ahead.
“Against him you are preparing to play the best game possible,” Zverev said of facing Djokovic. “You have to be perfect or you won’t win.
“Most of the time, you can’t be perfect,” Zverev added. “That’s why most of the time people lose to him.”
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