Novak Djokovic has slumped to World No. 7. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)US Open 2021 Men’s Semi-Final Highlights, Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev: World number one Novak Djokovic kept his bid for a calendar Grand Slam alive on Friday, overcoming German Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2 in the U.S. Open semi-final.
Djokovic moved within one win of reaching a men’s record 21 Grand Slam titles and avenged his loss to Zverev at the Tokyo Olympics in front of a roaring crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Rod Laver, the last person to complete a calendar slam 52 years ago, looking on.He will face Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final, after the world number two sent off 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in his semi-final.Djokovic handed the German his first break of the night with a double fault in the first set but otherwise showed no mercy, firing off 41 winners and a dozen aces across the entire match.
it’s time to address the elephant in the room (or not) 😝@DjokerNole | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/zDujWMJla1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2021
The third set was a matter of survival of the fittest. Djokovic had a 40-0 head start in the tenth game only to see Zverev fend off two break points through marathon rallies, including a 53-shot exchange, before he broke the German’s serve for the set point.Tied at two sets a piece, Djokovic won a 30-shot rally for the early break, but after fending off four break points saw Zverev convert in the seventh game. He broke Zverev’s serve in the next game before hoisting his arms aloft to wild cheers from the crowd.
Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final on Sunday. Medvedev, who is seeded second at the US Open, defeated a mistake-prone Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to head to his third Grand Slam final.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2 ZVEREV| Novak Djokovic defeats Alex Zverev to reach 31st Grand Slam final. Djokovic sails through a high-quality encounter with Zverev to prevail after three hours and 34 minutes and reach the 2021 US Open final. The Serb ran away with it in the fifth and then fought off a mini-revival from the German to break and finally get the job done.
DJOKOVIC 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 5-1 ZVEREV. Alexander avoids the bagel but he’ll be bitterly disappointed he couldn’t stay competitive after performing so well for most of the contest. He glides a winner down the line to take the game to 15. Djoker will now serve for the match.
Zverev has taken the game into a fifth set. The German wins the fourth set 6-4.
Djokovic is certainly looking like he might go down in this fourth set. This of course is exactly what we were hoping for -- Sascha serves to go up 5-3.
Novak Djokovic takes the third set 4-6 6-2 6-4 ! He is one set away from a US Open final with Medvedev. Zverev under immense pressure , especially during that 53-shots rally. While he did win that one but he failed to continue with the momentum as Djokovic smashes one to win.
Zverev takes the first
Novak dominates the second
Zverev has chances in third but loses
Zverev had chances in fourth and loses
A wonderful drop shot and then the lob works, it works for Djokovic Service winner, and Zverev must serve to stay in the set.
The duel between Djokovic and Zverev is right now on the wire, any slightest mistake or success will be decisive in deciding a 3rd set that aims to be very transcendental. 4-3 up Novak with serve for Zverev.
Djokovic is back again after going down 0-1 at the start of this set. But is his back hurting? He continues as of now. We will keep an eye on that.
Novak Djokovic takes the second set 6-2 to level the match! Novak Djokovic wins the second set after dropping the first. In his last three matches, Novak Djokovic lost the first set—but won in four.
Djokovic shakes off a couple of unforced errors with an ace and wraps it up quickly. Seems like Djokovic loses every single first set, and then proceeds to obliterate his opponents afterwards. He did the same against Rune, Nishikori and Brooksby and Berrettini.
Djokovic has to solve the first tricky situation with his own serve in the 2nd set, but after 15-30 he can hold his serve and place it on 4-1.
"The almost-court level camera view that they just used for the last USOpen game is soooooo much better than the typical high level camera. More visceral but just as good at showing where everyone is. No idea why TV doesn't use that more than the standard view," writes David on social media.
Djokovic breaks! Djokovic struggled to get his serve through. Zverev with a slight drop in tension, his serve does not come. He looks a bit rattled here! It's remarkable how quickly Djokovic adjusts.
Zverev only gives up one point after the 1st serve and wins the 1st set with 6-4. Djokovic with a slight wobble on the forehand, that makes the difference.
Djokovic loses the first set for the 4th consecutive time. Zverev played the set of his life….and Djokovic played at an extremely high level too and STILL lost the set. Zverev’s serve is his most improved shot this year. An unbelievable weapon that gets a lot of easy points.
Zverev breaks! With a double fault, Djokovic gives up his serve for the first time, Zverev serves on the first set. Its all happening at the arena! Will he win the first set?
Good comeback from the Djoker! At one stage he was behind 30-0 but then comes back to make it 4-4.
Zverev gets his first break ball after a great rally, but Djokovic can break free with his serve and subsequent patience in the rallies. 4-3 Djokovic
Zverev sniffs the break for the first time at 2-2, 0-30, but 2 service winners, 1 ace and an unforced error from Zverev give Djokovic the 3-2 lead. Zverev's forehand is going to have to keep up the level he's started with.
First Djokovic makes it 2-1 and then Zverev comes back with an ace. The German using his height and power to good effect.
Djokovic opens with an ace. What follows is a good baseline rally and then an unforced error from Djokovic. Zverev hits a winner. Zverev then follows with two punishing serves to hold.
Chapter 10 of Novak v. Sascha Djokovic: 26 consecutive Grand Slam victories
Zverev: 16 consecutive victories on the circuit
One of the two will break the streak today.
Who meets Medvedev in the final?
Let's play
According to various reports the delay is because US President Joe Biden is en route to New York for 9/11 memorials. Both the players warming up inside.
Novak Djokovic’s bid for an Olympic gold medal was stopped in the semifinals in Tokyo by Alexander Zverev. Now it’s Zverev again who can end the top-seeded Djokovic’s quest for the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s tennis since Rod Laver in 1969.
Shots, yes, but also mind - Ask other tennis players what makes Novak Djokovic great, what has pushed him to the brink of the first calendar-year Grand Slam by a man in more than a half-century, and the responses might include a mention of the way he returns serves or his ability to cover the court or his two-handed backhand. And so on. What they also invariably praise are his mental strength and physical stamina, his focus and his fitness, especially when it comes to the best-of-five-set format used at the major tournaments where he is 26-0 in 2021 heading into his U.S. Open semifinal against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Novak Djokovic is 26-0 in Grand Slam matches in 2021, moving him two victories from being the first man to win all four major tennis championships in one season since Rod Laver in 1969. Djokovic, a 34-year-old from Serbia who is ranked No. 1, won seven matches at the Australian Open, seven at the French Open and seven at Wimbledon to collect those trophies. Now he has added five wins at the U.S. Open as he heads into his semifinal against Alexander Zverev on Friday. A title at Flushing Meadows also would give Djokovic 21 career majors, breaking a tie for the men’s record he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Daniil Medvedev, who is seeded second, defeated a mistake-prone Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to head to his third Grand Slam final. He is still on course towards lifting his first major trophy. | READ |
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the US Open men's singles semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. The winner of the contest will face Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's final. Stay tuned for more updates!