WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Novak Djokovic has reached the last four at all Grand Slams this season after the 24-time Grand Slam champion overcame fourth seed Taylor Fritz of the United States 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the US Open quarterfinal on Tuesday.
With this victory, the 38-year-old Serbian became the oldest player in the open era to reach the semifinals at all four majors in one season.
"It was an incredibly close match. I thought I was lucky to really save some crucial break points in the second set," Djokovic said. "I think for most of the second and third sets, he was the better player. In these kinds of matches, a few points decide a winner."
"Particularly the end of the fourth set, that last game, that was nerve-wracking, honestly," he added.
Djokovic is joined by 2022 US Open champion and second seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, who beat Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to secure his semifinal berth without dropping a set in the tournament so far.
On the women's side, top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus was through after 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.
"I tried my best to take the court today, but during the warm-up I felt again my knee, and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury," Vondrousova said in a statement.
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula delighted home fans by sweeping Czech player Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-3, advancing to her second consecutive US Open semifinal.
"I think I've been playing some really good tennis," Pegula said. "I've just been playing very solid, I've been having very good, quick starts, so I really wanted to do that today, especially against someone like her who's very dangerous." ■
