Novak Djokovic delivered a clinical performance to dismiss the 144th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. (AP Photo)
Djokovic leads the heads-to-head against Fritz 10-0. If you take away Melbourne Park where he took the Serbian to five sets in 2021 and again last January in the quarterfinals when Djokovic came through in four sets there’s not much to weigh in on. Fritz, the junior champion here ten years ago, has demonstrated well-rounded development in his game over the past 12 to 18 months, particularly from the back of the court. The 27-year-old — the last American man left in the singles draw – said the first seven-eight times he played Djokovic, he wasn’t good enough a player to have much of a chance against the legend.
The fourth-seeded American hasn’t done so much better on sets won against Djokovic either.
The 38-year-old received on-court treatment on his right shoulder and neck after the first set of his fourth-round match against German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff. Though the Serb’s form remained flawless through the one-hour, 51-minute encounter, he needed the physio’s attention again, this time on his right forearm.
The No.7 seed, into the quarterfinals here for the 14th time, a staggering 64th Grand Slam last-eight appearance, continues to update the record books. At 38 years old, Djokovic is the oldest player to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Jimmy Connors in 1991, who turned 39 during the tournament. Djokovic’s progress to the last-eight means he cannot make his daughter Tara’s eighth birthday party on September 2 as he’s scheduled to take on American Taylor Fritz the same day.
“I’m going to try to win and give her that kind of present,” Djokovic said, adding, “Daddy away and daddy present is a big difference I know that. “The way to turn around that (head-to-head) is to become a better player,” Fritz said. Djokovic has now reached the quarterfinals at every major in a year for the ninth time in his career, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for the most of any man or woman in the Open era. Unless of course Tara brings the party to her daddy in New York! “I know that in the most recent matches we have had, there have been looks. I just haven’t been able to make it happen in the important moments of those matches. That’s what makes the best guys the best guys. They’re not going to give it to you in those moments. You have to go and take it.”