Cincinnati Masters: Djokovic powers past Fritz in an hour, Zverev awaits in semi-final

Novak Djokovic has fired a warning shot in Cincinnati, needing only an hour to advance to the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters with a dominant performance against No 9 seed Taylor Fritz, winning 6-0, 6-4 at the Lindner Tennis Family Center on Friday night.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion was particularly devastating in the first set, racing out of the blocks to claim the opening set in 21 minutes. Djokovic was particularly brutal in return, winning nine of 11 points on Fritz’s second serve in the first set, and breaking the American three times.

Second set lapse no issue for Djokovic

Following the breath-taking first set, Djokovic’s level dropped slightly in the second, with the Serb going down a break to trail 3-1 midway through the set. However, the 36-year-old quickly locked himself back into the match, smothering Fritz to win the set 6-4 on his first match point opportunity.

“I just managed to get off the blocks really, really strong, played an almost flawless first set. Then played really poorly in the second set, but managed to recorrect,” said Djokovic after the match.

“Everyday I raise the bar slightly more, the level of tennis. That’s what happening this tournament, I played three great matches, each day the same trajectory on the court.”

With Djokovic looking to continue raising his level of tennis, the next in his firing line is German Alexander Zverev, the No 16 seed. Zverev won their latest encounter, and has beaten the Serb four times, including at the Olympics in 2021.

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Tennis Majors

Ahead of his victory today, Djokovic Serb benefited from the mid-match retirement of Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (6-4, 0-0) and won against Frenchman Gael Monfils (6-3, 6-2).

Fritz, ranked No 9, won against Jiri Lehecka (7-6 (14), 6-2), Italian Lorenzo Sonego (6-4, 7-6 (1)) and Serb qualifier Dusan Lajovic (5-0 ret.) earlier in the tournament.

Cincinnati Masters, other quarter-finals results (Linder Tennis Family Center, hard, USD 6.600.000, most recent results first):

• Alexander Zverev beat Adrian Mannarino: 6-2, 6-3
• Carlos Alcaraz (1) beat Max Purcell (Q): 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Hubert Hurkacz beat Alexei Popyrin (LL): 6-1, 7-6 (8)