Djokovic writes another chapter in Grand Slam legacy after dominant US Open victory
Novak Djokovic Advances to U.S. Open Quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic, the seventh seed, claimed a dominant victory over Jan-Lennard Struff in the last 16 of the U.S. Open, extending his all-time record for number of Grand Slam quarter-finals. The match took place at the prestigious Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic's 6-3 6-3 6-2 triumph over Struff was marked by his exceptional serving performance. He out-served one of the players with the most aces during the tournament, recording 12 aces in the match. Djokovic won 79% of his first-serve points, a testament to his strong serving game.
Struff, ranked number 144 in the world, was unable to put any serious pressure on Djokovic. The German player won less than half of his first serves in the match, allowing Djokovic to break Struff's serve six times during the 109-minute encounter.
After the victory, Djokovic expressed his gratitude to the spectators, stating, "I don't know how many more I'm going to have, so obviously each one is very special and I want to thank all you guys for being present here tonight." He also acknowledged the importance of his serving performance, saying, "It definitely helps if you serve well. I think I had a great serving performance in the last round and also tonight."
The victory keeps alive Djokovic's pursuit of a record 25th major title. His next opponent is American Taylor Fritz, whom he played against in the quarterfinals of the US Open 2022. Djokovic's victory over Struff at the U.S. Open moved him into his 64th Grand Slam quarter-final.
Notably, Djokovic, aged 38, became the oldest man to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams in a single season. This achievement underscores his enduring dominance in the sport.
Struff had defeated two seeded players to reach his first U.S. Open fourth round, but was unable to maintain that form against Djokovic. His total of 66 aces in the men's draw was the second-highest count, but it was not enough to challenge Djokovic's formidable game.
During the match, Djokovic required treatment from the physio on his right shoulder and forearm, but it did not appear to affect his performance significantly. As he advances to the semifinals to face Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic will be looking to continue his impressive run at the U.S. Open.
