Novak Djokovic will face home player
Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals of the 2023
US Open.
23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will continue his bid for a fourth US Open title against ninth seed Taylor Fritz. The Serb has seemed on form for most of the tournament, defeating all but one of his opponents in straight sets. However, he ran into some difficulty against Laslo Djere in the third round as his compatriot took the 36-year-old to five sets.
Meanwhile, American player Fritz has not yet dropped a set at Flushing Meadows, although his first set against Dominic Stricker went to a tiebreak in the Round of 16. Moreover, he is the only high-ranked player left between Djokovic and the final, meaning that this match could mean monumental things for the outcome of the Slam at large.
Djokovic dominates head-to-head
The two players have faced each other seven times before, and Djokovic leads their head-to-head 7-0, suggesting that Fritz has not been able to challenge the Big Three member in the past.
They last played against each other at the 2023
Cincinnati Open just a couple of weeks ago. Djokovic met Fritz in the quarter-finals of the
ATP Masters 1000 event and swept past him 6-0, 6-4.
Nevertheless, Fritz has expressed some cautious optimism ahead of their clash in New York, perhaps encouraged by the knowledge that the American crowd will be firmly behind him. However, this was also the case in Cincinnati and it didn't seem to deter the World No. 1 at all.
The same goes for Fritz's powerful forehand and his good form. In fact, six out of Djokovic's seven victories against the 25-year-old were achieved in straight sets, with the only match that went to five sets being at the 2021 Australian Open where the Serb was nursing an injury.
Therefore, it is unlikely that the American will be able to fight back against an on-form Djokovic at the US Open.
Prediction: Djokovic wins in straight sets.
