Novak Djokovic is the first to qualify for the semi-finals of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2024 season. The Serbian world No. 1 got the better of the American Taylor Fritz (ATP 12/ N.12) in four sets, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, Tuesday in Melbourne. The match lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes, and Djokovic was slow to emerge by not achieving a break in the first two sets despite fifteen opportunities.
Fritz held on to his serve eight times in the first set, but he finally gave in in the tie-break against the world No.1. More than putting up resistance, the American even managed to equalize in the second set, by ruling out seven additional break points in favor of his opponent. These sequences enraged a disconcerted Novak Djokovic, who even got into a fight with his own staff when changing sides, making big signs to ask them for help.
In the process, however, the world No.1 began to find his feet on the Australian acrylic which saw him lift the trophy ten times. Novak Djokovic converted his two break points in the third set, concluding in the fourth set after two more breaks.
In the semi-final, the Serbian awaits the winner of the meeting between the Italian Jannik Sinner (ATP 4/N.4) and the Russian Andrey Rublev (ATP 5/N.5) which will take place later in the day. On the other side of the table, the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (ATP 9/N.9) and the Russian Daniil Medvedev (ATP 3/N.3) will face each other on Wednesday, as will the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (ATP 2/ N.2) and the German Alexander Zverev (ATP 6/N.6).
Despite his defeat, Taylor Fritz will return to the top-10 at the end of the tournament. The former No.5 will be in 9th place in the ATP rankings, ahead of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas who will move from 7th to 10th place, the Australian Alex de Minaur and the Norwegian Casper Ruud who will both fall one place in 11th and 12th rows.
Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open