Novak Djokovic / Image: APA / AFP / ED JONES
Novak Djokovic also mastered the fourth hurdle on Monday at the US Open in New York, which is endowed with $ 57.5 million. After the 1: 6.6: 3.6: 2.6: 2 victory over the American Jenson Brooksby, the tennis world number one is already in the quarter-finals. The 34-year-old Serb is still missing three wins for the “Grand Slam”, the victory in all four majors in the same calendar year, and for the 21st major title. The next opponent on Wednesday is Matteo Berrettini (ITA-6).
For the second time in a row, the “Djoker” took off slowly. Maybe you can afford that against a 20-year-old number 99 in the world. Against Berrettini, who eliminated the German qualifier Oscar Otte in four sets, he should be there right from the start. Especially since the way to the last eight for Djokovic with no top 50 player was an easy one. “That wasn't a perfect start for me. It's different when you play against someone who has nothing to lose,” said the Serbian, and again praised Brooksby's perfect opening set.
For the first time since 1881 quarter-finals without US participation
The end of Brooksby also meant a remarkable novelty: For the first time since the first US Open in 1881 (!), Neither men nor women made the quarter-finals, nor did Americans. Serving cannon Reilly Opelka (USA-22) also failed against South African Lloyd Harris in the round of 16. Incidentally, the latter is in a major quarter-finals for the first time, in which he now meets Alexander Zverev (GER-4). Opelka was honest about the exodus of his compatriots: “It's frustrating. We have over a dozen people in the top 100, but we don't have a Grand Slam finalist.” Dominant times like once with Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi are rare for a country. “I don't think we will have such a dominant time again.”
The women in particular, especially Serena Williams, but also Sofia Kenin, had torn out the host of the largest Grand Slam tournament in recent years. Shelby Rogers was on the best way after her sensational victory over Ashleigh Barty (AUS-1), but in the round of 16 it was the last stop against the 18-year-old British Emma Raducanu.
Speaking of women: The quarter-finals were completed on Tuesday night by Czech Karolina Pliskova, who was seeded as number 4, and Greek Maria Sakkari. Wimbledon finalist Pliskova knocked out the Russian Anastasija Pavlyuchenkova 7: 5.6: 4, Sakkari put the number 6 Canadian Bianca Andreescu down 6: 7 (2), 7: 6 (6), 6: 3. Sakkari's victory was only fixed at 2:13 am, after 3:30 hours of play.
And it also meant that in Flushing Meadows you will see a new winning face in the women after ex-champion Andreescu left. “I'm actually an early bird,” said Sakkari after the latest end of a women's match at the US Open. She was already in the semi-finals at the French Open this year. If she wants to reach this stage again, she now has to win against Pliskova.
