Djokovic turns away Fritz in four sets
Another New York night, another familiar result: Novak Djokovic sent a hometown hopeful packing and kept his bid for another US Open title on track. The Serbian beat American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on September 3, 2025, booking a semifinal date with Carlos Alcaraz.
The opening set set the tone. Djokovic started cleaner on return, pressed early, and pocketed a quick break to control the scoreboard. Fritz swung freely when he landed first serves, but longer exchanges leaned Djokovic’s way as he used depth to push the American off the baseline.
The second set was tighter. Fritz lifted his first-strike patterns and protected his serve deep into the set, only for Djokovic to squeeze late—patient in rallies, picking his moments, and forcing errors with heavy, cross-court pressure. A late break decided it 7-5.
Fritz refused to fold. He cracked the third set open by hitting through the court, especially with the forehand up the line. He grabbed the initiative early, held onto it, and cut the deficit to two sets to one. The crowd woke up, and for a stretch Fritz looked like the aggressor dictating patterns.
Djokovic steadied in the fourth. He shortened points behind a higher first-serve clip, mixed height and pace, and kept Fritz guessing on second-serve returns. An early break gave him breathing room, and he protected it to the finish line. The handshake told the story: one player stretched, the other composed, both aware how fine the margins were.
- First set: Djokovic breaks early, controls rallies, 6-3.
- Second set: tight chess match, late break for 7-5.
- Third set: Fritz surges with fearless hitting, 6-3.
- Fourth set: Djokovic regains control with depth and variety, 6-4.
For Fritz, it’s another deep run in New York and proof his forehand-first game can bother the very best when he sets his feet and swings big. For Djokovic, it’s a familiar path: absorb, adjust, and flip the script in the key moments.
What it means and what’s next
The win sets up a blockbuster semifinal: Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz. It’s the matchup that has defined the sport’s handoff in recent seasons—one player built on control and precision, the other on speed and shotmaking. Expect long rallies, sharp return games, and plenty of mid-court cat-and-mouse. Serve patterns and second-serve protection will likely decide who starts points on their terms.
They’ve traded momentum across big stages before, and the contrast in styles is why this pairing pulls a global audience. Best-of-five on a New York night favors composure as much as shotmaking. Whichever player handles the pressure pockets—0/30 service games, tiebreaks, and early breaks—should have the edge.
If you were hunting for a guide on how to watch Fritz–Djokovic for free, that ship has sailed—the match is done. Your best bet now: check official tournament channels for highlights, look for replays on your region’s broadcast partner apps, and scan post-match analysis to see how the tactics evolved set by set. Full-match replays and extended highlights usually land shortly after play ends.
Key takeaways for fans looking ahead:
- Djokovic handled the big points better and closed in four, saving energy for the semifinal.
- Fritz showed he can dent elite returners when he gets forehands early, a good sign for his hard-court season.
- The semifinal against Alcaraz should hinge on return depth, defensive scrambles into offense, and who controls backhand cross-court exchanges.
The stage is set. Djokovic advances again in New York, and the semifinal everyone circled is on the calendar.