Djokovic extends Slam bid as no American in quarter
For 1 1/2 sets, including one particularly compelling and competitive 24-point game, Novak Djokovic’s fourth-round opponent at the US Open—jenson Brooksby, the last American left in singles—gave him fits amid a raucous atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
That let Djokovic, above all, and everyone else, know that Brooksby—a 20-year-old wildcard entry from California who is ranked 99th and never before had been on this sort of stage— belonged. And then, not surprisingly, Djokovic showed why he is who he is and how he’s managed to move within three victories of the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s tennis in 52 years.
Settling in and sending messages, to the fans with roars and to Brooksby with some staredowns, the No.1 ranked Djokovic improved to 25-0 in majors this year by winning 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Monday night. He extended his pursuit of a true Grand Slam and a record-breaking 21st major championship, while also making this the first time in the history of the US Open, an event that dates to the 1880s, with zero men or women from the host country in the quarter-finals.
“Was a good finish. It wasn’t a good tart,” said Djokovic, who hopes to add a fourth US Open title to a collection that’s been boosted by his ninth at the Australian Open in February, second at the French Open in June and sixth at Wimbledon in July.
He next meets No.6 Matteo Berrettini of Italy in a rematch of
Affected by a left hip that bothered him earlier in the tournament, Brooksby was visited by a trainer after the second set and again after the third. Still, for someone who never had set foot on Ashe’s blue court until about two hours before the match, when he got a chance to practice there, Brooksby never seemed overwhelmed by the setting or the circumstances.
“We’re going to see a lot of him in the future,” said Djokovic, who would be the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Slam trophies in one year. “I mean, he has the means. Now, obviously a lot of things have to come together. But he has a bit of an unorthodox game. Does a lot with the feel. He’s smart. He patterns drawn up by his co at home in Sacramento since 7, Joe Gilbert—all left Djoko tad discombobulated early.
“I knew it would be impor to start strong, to impose mindset and my strategy, game out there,” Brooksby “I could see it working. I re did have a lot of confidenc myself out there that I can him, I can beat anybody.”
In the first set, Brooksby m one unforced error, Djokov And Brooksby won 14 of points that lasted five strok more, Djokovic four.
When Djokovic netted overhead to move Brooksby points from the set, most o spectators in the 23,000-plu pacity arena—excited to be