Novak Djokovic looks set to equal Rafael Nadal's ATP Masters semi-final record soon after reaching the last 4 at the Cincinnati Open, meaning he is also likely to surpass the record completely by the end of 2023.
Big Three member Djokovic has broken many a record over his highly successful career, including surpassing Nadal's total number of Grand Slam titles with his victory at the French Open this year, bringing his total up to 23 compared to the Spaniard's 22.
Moreover, the 36-year-old is currently competing at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he defeated ninth seed Taylor Fritz 6-0, 6-4 to reach his 75th Masters-level semi-final.
By reaching 75, Djokovic is one away from equalling Nadal's record for most Masters-level semi-finals reached. The latter reached his 76th semi-final at the 2022 Indian Wells after he defeated Nick Kyrgios in the quarter-finals 7-6 (0), 5-7, 6-4.
He then went on to win against the now-world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz to reach the final, where he was defeated by Fritz who won the match 6-3, 7-6.
However, the 37-year-old has missed almost all of the 2023 season due to injury and underwent arthroscopic surgery in June. He is planning to return for 2024, but suggested that it could be his final season.
With two more Masters events to come this season, it is likely that world No. 2 Djokovic will have broken Nadal's record completely by the end of the year.
These tournaments are the Shanghai Masters which will take place at the beginning of October and the Paris Masters which will begin in the last week of October and run into November. Djokovic has won the Shanghai Masters four times already, and the Paris Masters six times, meaning getting to the semi-finals is certainly a doable task for him.
75 - With victory over Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic has reached his 75th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. Since the format began in 1990, Djokovic is only the second player to reach 75 or more, after Rafael Nadal (76). Esteemed. #CincyTennis | @CincyTennis @atptour @ATPMediaInfo
