Novak Djokovic exclusive - Taylor Fritz battle at Australian Open was 'real struggle physically, mentally, emotionally'

ByBen Snowball

Updated 23/01/2024 at 10:50 GMT

When Novak Djokovic gets to the Australian Open semi-finals, he wins the trophy. Or at least, that has been the case on his previous 10 visits to the last four in Melbourne. The world No. 1 finally found a way to breach the Taylor Fritz serve as he came through their clash on Rod Laver Arena in four sets on Tuesday, leaving him just two wins away from a record-extending title.

Novak Djokovic said the first two sets of his hard-fought win over Taylor Fritz in the Australian Open quarter-finals were a "real struggle – physically, mentally, emotionally".

The Serbian needed over two and a half hours – and 16 break points – before he finally cracked the American's serve and motored to a 7-6(3) 4-6 6-2 6-3 win.

Djokovic, who has won the title on the 10 previous occasions he has reached the last four, next meets Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev in Melbourne.

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"It was extremely hot conditions, the hottest of this year," he told Eurosport's Barbara Schett.

"Taylor came out with a clear gameplan. He came out with the right sharpness, pressing me from the baseline, playing very aggressively. He was making me run, I was on the back foot quite a lot.

"When he serves as well as he does, it’s difficult. He puts a lot of pressure on your service game. The first couple of sets were a struggle. A real, real struggle – physically, mentally, emotionally.

"In the third set, I started very well. The sun came down, which cooled the temperature and it was more pleasant to play, and I felt much better in the third and fourth."

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Djokovic continued: "I took his legs, that’s for sure. He did take my legs as well. It was a lot of running. He played great.

"My conversion on break points was really poor – four for 21 – but also due to his high level.

"On the second serves, I was hitting the ball, but he came up with some great backhand winners. You have to say congrats and move on. I held my composure. I served very well, which made my life a bit easier."

Schett then asked Djokovic if he was aware of his incredible record from this point onwards in the tournament, before cheekily holding up his arm in victory when he confessed he was.

"Let's see. Let’s be humble," he added.

"But of course, the confidence is there. The matches are only going to get tougher, so I’ve got to get ready for the [next] one."

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Djokovic was interviewed by a familiar face on court after his victory: recent Eurosport recruit and foe-turned-friend Nick Kyrgios.

Prior to the tournament, the world No. 1 revealed that he had a "special relationship" with a tree in Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens, with Kyrgios asking whether it held the key to him ending his own Grand Slam drought.

"I’ll show you the tree," joked Djokovic on court.

"What you’ve got to do is take off your shoes, climb the tree to a point, and hang upside down on one of the highest branches for 33 minutes and three seconds. Then you can win a Slam."

Speaking later to Schett, Djokovic praised the Australian for brightening up the sport.

"It was his first on court [interview], but he did well. He’s doing great," he said.

"I think he is so refreshing for our sport both with a racquet and in the commentary box. It doesn’t mean that I don’t love you and Johnny Mac and Jim Courier, and Mats… you guys are all doing a great job, but it’s great to see him.

"Obviously he has been a controversial character over the years but I like the way he speaks his mind. He’s fun to watch and listen. I had a blast with him on the court."

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