US Open live: Novak Djokovic survives against Taylor Fritz to set up Carlos Alcaraz clash

Carlos Alcaraz was not even two games and eight minutes into his US Open quarter-final against Jiri Lehecka when he reached into his box of tricks to pull out something spectacular.

Running backwards and towards his backhand corner, positioned deep into a defensive position behind the baseline and between the tramlines, Alcaraz unleashed a venomous inside-out forehand that scorched past Lehecka before he could even move.

A few moments after his latest defeat to Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz faced up to the statistics, even though he knew they would not be pretty reading. The American had just lost to Djokovic for the 11th time in their 11th meeting and the fact it was his closest yet was no consolation.

Not after exiting the US Open at the quarter-final stage, continuing the drought for American men in the men’s singles, or after double-faulting on the third match point and handing Djokovic an escape from an even later night.

Novak Djokovic will likely have to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner back-to-back to win the US Open but says he will be trying to “mess up the plans of people” who are hoping to an Alcaraz-Sinner final.

“We know that they are two best players in the world. Everybody is probably expecting and anticipating the finals between two of them. I’m going to try to, you know, mess up the plans of most of the people.

“I definitely am not going with a white flag on the court. I don’t think anybody does really when they play them, but particularly not me.

“Here we are. I have another chance, another shot. Hopefully, as I said, I can be fit enough and play well enough to keep up with Carlos. Then it can be anybody’s match.”

Novak Djokovic hopes having an extra day of rest will work in his benefit before playing Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi-finals on Friday.

“Let’s see in two days’ time,” he said when asked how he was feeling physically after his win over Taylor Fritz.

“Good thing about the schedule is now that I have two days without a match, so that helps a lot. I don’t feel very fresh at the moment, but hopefully in two days it will be different.”

“It was an incredibly close match, really anybody’s match. I thought I was lucky to save some crucial break points in the second and third sets. In these matches a few points decide the win.

“Tough for Taylor to finish on a double fault, he didn’t deserve that. In many of my service games I was just trying to stay alive. I’m really proud of the fight that I put in. I wear my heart on my sleeve always.”

Novak Djokovic leads his head-to-head with Carlos Alcaraz 5-3, including their last two meetings at the Australian Open and in the Olympics final.

Some would argue Alcaraz has improved dramatically even since the start of this year…

A double-fault was the worst possible ending for Fritz.

His defeat in the quarter-finals means the drought for an American man to win a major will continue, with Andy Roddick ‘s 2003 title in New York their last success.

For the seventh time in his career, Novak Djokovic has reached all four semi-finals at the grand slams in the same year.

He is yet to win one, as he still searches for a 25th grand slam title. Could it come in New York?

He lost Jannik Sinner at the French Open and Wimbledon, and retired against Alexander Zverev in Australia.

Novak Djokovic now has…

53 grand slam semi-finals

Is 14-0 in US Open quarter-finals

Is 16-0 vs Americans at the US Open