'Wait for it': Tennis fans react to Novak Djokovic drama at US Open
If Novak Djokovic is to create tennis history at the US Open then he seems determined to do it the hard way.
On Friday night in New York, the World No.1 was taking on Alexander Zverev for a place in the finals at Flushing Meadows and a step closer to a record-breaking 21st major that would also complete a rare calendar year Grand Slam.
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No male player has won all four majors in the same year since Australia's Rod Laver in 1969 and Djokovic has been determined to avoid talking about it in New York.
Djokovic's passage through to the last four hasn't been as straightforward as he or many fans would have imagined, with the World No.1 suffering several hiccups in the lead-up to the showdown with Zverev, who beat the Serb in the Tokyo Olympics on his way to claiming the gold medal.
Indeed, the 20-time grand slam champion had uncharacteristically dropped the first set in the three previous matches against Kei Nishikori, Jenson Brooksby and Matteo Berrettini.
His victories in those matches once again highlighted how hard the Serb is to beat over a best-of-five set contest.
Against Zverev, the 34-year-old again dropped the opening set after an enthralling opening stanza against his German opponent.
When Djokovic skied what appeared to be a regulation return off the frame of his racquet it signalled the fourth match in succession that he'd dropped the first set.
The dramatic scenes lit up the tennis world, with fans labelling it "inevitable" that Djokovic would go to another level in the second set.
Djokovic loses the first set for the 4th consecutive time pic.twitter.com/waBoZk5yVe
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 11, 2021
Everybody hang on, Djokovic drops the first set again… Wait for it…. 😤🚀
— Lucas (@LucasWitt21) September 11, 2021
It’s the old Djokovic rope a dope loss of the first set! #USOpen
— mac (@pamiepat72) September 11, 2021
Djokovic drops the first set yet again. If my theory holds, he's a mortal lock to win.
— Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) September 11, 2021
Djokovic loses the first set. We’ve heard this story before. Hoping Zverev can win but Novak feels inevitable. #USOpen
— Andrew Corns (@AndrewCorns) September 11, 2021
Here we go again. Djokovic starting with the same scenario. He gives away the first set. Now, watch as he takes the next three sets easily.
— AlwaysAwake (@AlwaysAwake0402) September 11, 2021
I have to admit, this thing where Djoković loses the first set only to win the next 3 is getting pretty old. #USOpen
— Ivan Avramović (@iavramovic) September 11, 2021
In true US Open Djokovic fashion…. He drops the first set. I swear he does it on purpose.
— Lisa Ybarra (@lisamarieybarra) September 11, 2021
Novak Djokovic one win away from tennis immortality
True to form, the World No.1 turned the screws in the second set, with an early break of Zverev's serve signalling his intentions.
Before the German knew it he was 2-5 down and serving to stay in the second stanza against a red-hot opponent who'd started finding his range with brutal consistency.
An unforced error from Zverev gave Djokovic two break point chances and despite saving one of them, a wayward pass from the World No.4 left the match delicately poised at one set apiece.
Nothing could seperate the players until the tenth game of the third set when Djokovic set up a triple break point chance.
Zverev managed to save two of them with an incredible 53-shot rally sending the Arthur Ashe crowd into raptures.
However, Djokovic kept the relentless pressure going and finally converted his third chance to take an ominous two-sets-to-one lead.
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