Djokovic dominates Berrettini after Dallin in 1st set
Novak Djokovic’s quest for history marches on.
The world No. 1 is two wins away from the first calendaryear Grand Slam in men’s tennis since Rod Laver in 1969, after defeating sixth-seeded Matteo Berrettini 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic will next face No. 4 Alexander Zverev on Friday in his 12th U.S. Open semifinals appearance.
It was the third time this tournament that Djokovic stormed back after dropping the first set. But the 34-year-old wore Berrettini down as the match progressed, working every angle while capitalizing on his younger opponent’s mistakes.
After 17 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic committed just 11 for the remainder of the match.
“Best three sets I’ve played — second, third and fourth — of the tournament so far” Djokovic said. “I think I managed to raise the level of my tennis. When I dropped the first set, I went to a different level and I stayed there until the last point. It’s something that definitely encourages me and gives me a lot of confidence prior to the semifinals. It was a great battle.”
Holding a break point while trailing 4-2 in the third set, Berrettini made one last stand. After Berrettini, 25, put a backhand into the net, Djokovic blasted a 121 mph ace before sending a forehand winner down the line to hold. Djokovic then pointed his finger to his ear, prompting the 20,299 in attendance to unleash their cheers of approval.
The tone was set right off the bat by a 14-point opening game that Djokovic won, which didn’t even hold up as the longest of the match. With Djokovic up 3-2, the sixth game went for 12 minutes, 23 seconds before Berrettini pulled even. The two continued to trade off games, but Berrettini overpowered Djokovic to take an intense first set.
Djokovic cleaned up his game and quickly worked Berrettini out of his groove to start the second set. After cruising to a 4-1 lead, Djokovic went up 40-0 in the sixth game before allowing Berrettini to claw his way back in and ultimately pull within two games. But Djokovic handily took the final two games to keep Berrettini at bay and knot the match at one set.
“I know what my strengths are and I stick to them,” the Serbian said. “I’ve worked over the years to perfect my game so that my game can have literally no flaws. Every player has some weaknesses in their game, but there’s always something you can improve, and I want to have as complete and all-around game as I possibly can.”
That sixth game of the third set proved to be the last time Berrettini truly put pressure on Djokovic, who became more aggressive at the net and more difficult to contain as the match progressed.
Djokovic, who hadn’t reached the semifinals at the Open since 2018, is now 26-0 in major tournaments this season. Djokovic is two wins from his 21st major, which would break a tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most in history.
If he can get through Zverev, the 2020 runner-up who is on his own 16-match winning streak, then win Sunday’s final, Djokovic will join Laver and Don Budge as the only men to claim all four major tennis singles trophies in one season.