US Open 2021: Novak Djokovic, quarterfinal, score, result, Matteo Berrettini, Grand Slam, tennis news
Novak Djokovic is closing in on tennis history at the US Open and he had an ominous message for a rival standing in his way.
Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to breaking a 52-year-old drought with a dominant win in the quarterfinals of the US Open on Thursday (AEST).
The world No. 1 defeated Italian Matteo Berrettini 5-7 6-2 6-3 6-3 in a rematch of this yearтАЩs Wimbledon final.
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It appeared Djokovic was in trouble early, when he lost an epic first set which lasted an hour and seven minutes.
But the Serbian superstar shook off any signs of rust, producing his best tennis to win the next three sets in just over two hours and book his place in the semi-finals.
Djokovic was in scintillating form against Berrettini and incredibly, he hit only 10 unforced errors in the last three sets.
And he was at his antagonistic best while engaging with the New York crowd, pointing to his ear as if he was urging them to cheer him on.
тАЬI think it was a great performance overall,тАЭ Djokovic said after the match, calling his last three sets тАЬthe best three sets IтАЩve played in the tournamentтАЭ.
тАЬIt was a great match, a lot of energy on the court.
тАЬWhen I lost the first set, I managed to forget about it, move on, be in the moment. I was dialled in, locked in from the beginning of the second set and was able to raise my level.тАЭ
Djokovic is aiming to become the first man since AustraliaтАЩs Rod Laver in 1969 to achieve the Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments in the same calendar year.
After his triumphs at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, the 34-year-old is now only two wins away from creating tennis history.
A victory at the US Open would also see him claim his 21st grand slam title, surpassing rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic has won 26 matches in a row at grand slam level this year but will come up against another player in red-hot form in the semi-finals тАФ fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
The German is on a 16-match winning streak himself and will be confident he can end DjokovicтАЩs quest for history after he won their semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics on his way to claiming the gold medal.
Djokovic knows he will have to be at his best to get past Zverev and make yet another grand slam final.
тАЬHeтАЩs in tremendous form. He has been winning a lot,тАЭ he said.
But the Djoker issued an ominous warning to Zverev, saying he will relish the challenge of rising to his level.
тАЬHeтАЩs one of the best players in the world right now and IтАЩm pumped,тАЭ Djokovic said.
тАЬThe bigger the challenge, the more glory in overcoming it.тАЭ
Despite the fact he is only two wins away from achieving tennis immortality, Djokovic
refused to be drawn on the possibility of him achieving the Grand Slam.
тАЬOnly focusing on the next match. DonтАЩt ask me about history,тАЭ he said.
тАЬIтАЩm thinking only about the next match. Step by step.тАЭ
Originally published as Novak DjokovicтАЩs scary warning as he closes in on 52-year-old record
