Greek Stefanos TsitsipasNorwegian Casper Ruud and Danish Holger Rune they said goodbye to the US Open 2023 very early. They left an open field at the bottom of the draw, which was taken by a new and complete game of American tennis, orphaned by greats such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. most recently, also Andy Roddickthe last local Grand Slam champion to play at home in 2003, and also the last to make it to the final of the 2006 tournament, which he lost to the Swiss. Roger Federer.
The Golden Age of the Big FourFederer, Nadal and Djokovicin addition to Andy Murray) subjugated several generations of tennis players. The United States paid the price for this. Francis Tiafoe confirmed the paradigm shift by making it to the 2022 semi-finals but failed to beat the Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz.
The “Big Enemy” has established itself in the world top 10, which now closes, at 25 years old. Right behind your good friend, peer, Taylor Fritz. Next on the list is Tommy Paul14th in the ATP rankings at 26, but lost a derby to the youngest Ben Shelton at 20, running at 240 km/h.
Three American players in the quarter-finals of the US Open, as in the old days, although not clear favorites for the title. In his boxing, there was a confrontation between the United States and the three-time champion of the tournament. Novak Djokovic.
The Serbian, inadvertently, became the US’s number one enemy at the US Open. He accepts this and focuses on it, realizing that the stands will be close to his people. “I think they will support Fritz more in the quarter-finals and also Shelton or Tiafoe If I get to the semi-finals. This is expected. We are in America, playing against opponents from home. To be honest, I would be surprised if it was the other way around,” he said. Djokovic.
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Meticulous, he stated that “I know what awaits me, and I’m going to mentally prepare for it.” Realizing that “there is a lot of enthusiasm because lately they have been successful. Although they have a very high level, because this country is used to having some of the greatest achievements of all time: Sampras, Agassi, McEnroe, Roddick, Connors...”.
Djokovic it’s calm. He won the Cincinnati Masters 1000 ATP tournament in an epic final with Alcaraz and his history with Fritz is in his favor. No less than 7-0, and recent 6-0 and 6-4 in Cincinnati.
Looking ahead, in the semi-finals he won two of his fights with Tiafoe. There are no records on Shelton.
The USA secured a semi-finalist. Djokovic will try to prevent the festival from moving forward. “This is not pressure, but an illusion. This is important for tennis in the US,” he said. Fritz.