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US Open: record-making Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff steam into semi-finals

  • Serbian will appear in his 13th US Open semi-final, eclipsing the mark he shared with Roger Federer
  • Gauff is the first American teenager to reach the US Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001

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Novak Djokovic celebrates winning a point during his singles quarter-final against Taylor Fritz. Photo: Xinhua

Novak Djokovic charged into a record 47th grand slam semi-final at the US Open with a straight-sets win over Taylor Fritz, while home favourite Coco Gauff stayed on track for her first major title.

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Djokovic shrugged off ninth seed Fritz 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to extend his dominance of American players in New York and take another step closer to a record-extending 24th men’s major title.

The 36-year-old Serbian star will appear in his 13th US Open semi-final, eclipsing the mark he shared with Roger Federer for most appearances in the last four of a grand slam.

Djokovic awaits either 10th seed Frances Tiafoe or the up-and-coming Ben Shelton, who face off in an all-American affair in Tuesday’s night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I’ve been playing on this court for many years, so many epic matches and I cannot wait for another one in a few days’ time,” Djokovic, a three-time US Open champion, said.

Taylor Fritz lost to Novak Djokovic for the eighth time in a row. Photo: Xinhua
Taylor Fritz lost to Novak Djokovic for the eighth time in a row. Photo: Xinhua

Djokovic beat Fritz for the eighth time in a row, weathering stifling conditions as the temperature topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) and humidity rose above 55 per cent.

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