(Cincinnati) Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev qualified for the Cincinnati Tennis Masters 1000 semifinals on Friday, joining Carlos Alcaraz and Hubert Hurkacz, as well as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova in the women’s draw.
The Serbian Novak Djokovic, N.2 in the world, easily dominated the American Taylor Fritz (6-0, 6-4), but the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, N.1, had to fight a little more to come to end of the Australian Max Purcell (4-6, 6-3, 6-4).
Djokovic did not spare Fritz, winning his seventh match against the American N.1 for none conceded. After winning the first set in just 21 minutes, two-time tournament winner “Nole” (2018, 2020), however, was broken early in the second.
The Serb with 23 Grand Slam titles regained the upper hand in the eighth game when Fritz sent a forehand into the net. Djokovic broke again two games later, concluding the confrontation on his first match point after 62 minutes.
“I started the second set badly, leaving him the break. But from 2-4 I played four solid games, overall it was a great performance. I’ve played three games so far, every day I put the bar a little higher. »
“I feel better on the court. I hope the same trajectory will continue,” added Djokovic, who will face Zverev in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The German, who won the tournament in 2021, beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (6-2, 6-3), advancing to his first Masters 1000 semi-final since the Rome tournament in 2022 – before A serious ankle injury in Paris in 2022 will keep him away from the courts for more than six months.
Carlos Alcaraz beat Australian Max Purcell, although he dropped the first set in 44 minutes against the No. 70 player in the world.
The recent Wimbledon winner, in search of a seventh title this season, managed to get back on track to play a third set where he broke and finally qualified in two and a quarter hours.
“It was really difficult and complex today, he serves really well,” said Alcaraz. “He played well at the net. I fired well, that was the key to winning. »
Alcaraz has an appointment in the semi-final with the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (N.20), who needed seven match points to dismiss the Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-1, 7-6 (10/8).
Among the women, the Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek showed that she knew how to adapt quickly by eliminating Marketa Vondrousova (10th) 7-6 (7/3), 6-1.
The Polish player, U.S. Open and Roland-Garros titleholder, lost her serve twice in the first set, struggling against her left-handed opponent, before breaking and eventually winning the tiebreak against the Czech , victorious at Wimbledon this year. Swiatek then easily dominated the second set, managing to qualify in 93 minutes.
“It’s not easy to adapt to his game,” admitted Swiatek. “After the first set, I was determined to fight for every ball. I was more focused and knew what worked. I learned from the first set. I knew exactly how I had to play. »
To hope to reach the final, the player will have to defeat the American Coco Gauff, world No. 7, who threw her racket in a moment of anger before winning against the Italian Jasmine Paolini (6-3, 6- 2).
“Usually they say don’t throw your racket away, but I’ve won six games in a row,” Gauff said. ” What can we do ? At least no one was hurt. »
World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, for her part, beat Ons Jabeur 7-5, 6-3 in 85 minutes. The Belarusian scored nine aces and broke nine times against the Tunisian, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, who suffered a foot injury in the second set.
Like a resumption of the semi-final of Roland-Garros, Sabalenka will therefore face the Czech Karolina Muchova, qualified due to the abandonment of her compatriot Marie Bouzkova, injured in the right thigh, who had just lost the first three games.
Sabalenka, winner of the Australian Open, will try to take the upper hand against Muchova, who had won a surprise victory against the N.2 in Paris.
