Australian Open: Novak Djokovic to face Jannik Sinner in semi-final after beating Taylor Fritz in a grueling four-setter

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic successfully navigated a challenging four-set match against American Taylor Fritz, securing his spot in the Australian Open semi-finals, where he is set to face Italian Jannik Sinner.

In pursuit of his record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and 11th at Melbourne Park, Djokovic managed to overcome Fritz in a three-hour and 45-minute battle, triumphing with a scoreline of 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Due to the extended duration of Djokovic and Fritz’s match, along with an earlier three-set victory for Coco Gauff, the subsequent night session featuring Sinner and Andrey Rublev experienced delays and commenced after 10.40 p.m.

Despite facing challenges, including trailing 5-1 in the second-set tiebreak and showing signs of discomfort with an abdominal muscle issue, Sinner secured a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory around 1.20 am local time.

Throughout the encounter with Fritz, Djokovic initially struggled to capitalize on numerous break point opportunities, allowing Fritz to level the match after two sets totaling two hours and 23 minutes. However, Djokovic eventually broke Fritz twice in each of the final two sets, securing the overall victory.

Reflecting on the match, Djokovic acknowledged the difficulty presented by Fritz’s high-quality tennis, particularly his effective serving and court coverage, which led to a physically and emotionally draining experience.

Djokovic’s triumph extends his remarkable 33-match winning streak at the Australian Open, with his last defeat in the tournament occurring in 2018. Notably, he was unable to defend his title in 2022 due to vaccination-related issues. The upcoming semi-final appearance will mark Djokovic’s 48th at a Grand Slam, further solidifying his record in this regard.