During the U.S. Open on Tuesday night, Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic faced a particularly hostile crowd in his four-set victory over American contender Taylor Fritz. The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium saw fans, especially those supporting Fritz, turn against Djokovic, with some audiences echoing boos for his mistakes and cheering his errors. Despite the challenging atmosphere, Djokovic maintained his composure, eventually securing a hard-fought win that advanced him to the semifinals, where he will face top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.
As the match progressed, the tension between the players and the crowd became increasingly apparent. Fritz, the last American man standing in the tournament, had home-court advantage, and the early stages of the match suggested that the fans had successfully unsettled Djokovic. However, the Serbian star’s resilience shone through, as he adapted to the adversity and remained focused on the task at hand.
Throughout the match, Fritz’s supporters continued to root for his success, cheering for Djokovic’s faults and occasionally interrupting his rallies. In the third set, as the match stretched beyond 10:30 p.m., Djokovic’s frustration peaked. He approached the chair umpire, Damion Dumusois, and famously repeated the phrase,