US Open 2025 Djokovic beats Fritz: Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz battled in a thrilling showdown at the US Open 2025 men’s singles second quarter-finals on Wednesday. Djokovic, seeded seventh, defeated fourth seed Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to book his place in the US Open semifinals. He will now face second seed Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the final.
Djokovic broke first set
Novak Djokovic started strong, winning the opening game after a close exchange of points. He seemed to have held firm under pressure to secure the lead, but then appeared to push harder to take the third game after a tense series of deuces. With a 3-0 cushion, Fritz was already under pressure to respond.
Fritz did manage to steady himself, holding serve to get on the scoreboard at 1-3. But Djokovic stayed sharp and kept control. Fritz fought hard to bring the score to 3-5, showing acts of resistance, but Djokovic raised his level again. The crowd roared with vheers when he saved a break point.
Djokovic eventually closed out the set 6-3, breaking early and not letting go of the advantage. Even though Fritz produced long rallies, including one lasting 25 shots, he could not convert any of his five break points. Djokovic’s composure gave him the early edge in the quarterfinal.
Djokovic wins second set
Fritz came back determined in the second set, winning the opening game with precision and losing just one point on serve across his first three service games. His aggressive hitting even drew applause from Djokovic, especially when he struck a backhand winner past the Serb.
Fritz kept pushing and earned another break point with back-to-back winners. But Djokovic saved it – his ninth break point of the match, by finding his best shots under pressure. Instead of losing ground, Djokovic broke Fritz for the first time in the set when the American faltered with an error. The Serbian player quickly consolidated with an ace, taking a 5-3 lead.
Just when Djokovic looked set to finish it off, Fritz broke back to 5-5, which sent a wave of thrill into the crowd. But nerves cost him, as he made two double faults handing Djokovic the advantage once again. Fritz then overhit a forehand, and Djokovic sealed the set 7-5 with a brilliant sliding shot, smiling and blowing kisses to the crowd.
Fritz wins third set, but Djokovic not happy with the crowd
At 1-2, Djokovic made a poor choice with a drop shot, and Fritz punished him with a passing winner to grab the break. The New York fans, already noisy, became even louder, shouting during Djokovic’s serves. Djokovic even complained to the umpire about the noise and the interruptions, clearly upset.
Fritz fed off the energy, racing to a 4-1 lead with a love hold. Djokovic managed a steadier service game afterward, even winning a point with a smart drop shot. But Fritz stayed composed and served out the set 6-3. The crowd erupted, delighted that the American had extended the contest beyond three sets.
Fourth set thriller – the headband mystery
Djokovic reset himself quickly in the fourth set, holding serve to open with authority. He built a 3-2 lead, fighting off break chances and showing his trademark grit. On the other side, Fritz’s service games grew stronger, with his forehand causing problems for the Serbian player.
In a lighter moment, fans noticed that Fritz had worn his headband upside-down in the first two sets, correcting it before winning the third. Whether coincidence or superstition, it added to the drama.
Both players refused to budge, holding serve deep into the set. Fritz pushed hard to make it 4-4, and neither looked ready to give anything away. With both men trading powerful shots and nerves tightening, the fourth set seemed destined to go to a tie-break.