Djokovic eliminated Shelton and looked to Alcaraz to play in his tenth US Open final

This Sunday, at ten o’clock in the evening, he will play his tenth US Open final, the thirty-sixth Grand Slam final. He has won 22 of his 23 semifinals in this top category since 2015. He holds the record for titles, 23, of which three were in New York, in 2011, 2015 and 2018. A legend.

On the other side of the net, a 20-year-old rookie with only quarterfinal history in the last Australian Open. In his first season at an elite level. With all the enthusiasm in the world, huge power, but no experience and the pressure of playing at home. A wonder for the support received, in some stages of torture when one was blown away by the enemy.

A contrast of roles set that semi-final Novak Djokovic36 years old and next world number one on Monday, was riding high on the satisfaction of beating the American Ben Shelton, 20 years old and number 47 (left 19th), 6-3, 6-2 and 7-6 (4) in 2h.39′. ‘Nole’, who fumbled a bit to confirm the pass, when the opponent was trying to revolutionize the match, came back from a set point at 4-5 in the third set.

‘No’ He has a record of 23-12 in Grand Slam finals, although 3-6 at this US Open. His previous presence ended in drama, as he surrendered to the Russians Daniel Medvedevin 2021, when he has the option to sign the historic achievement of a complete Grand Slam in the same season.

He will have all the time in the world to closely monitor his greatest rival, executioner at Wimbledon, victim at Roland Garros and Cincinnati, Carlos Alcarazthat at one o’clock in the morning the Russian would meet Daniel Medvedev with the aim of making the dream final between the two best moments.

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Shelton was presented to Arthur Ashe Stadium leading the number of ‘aces’ in the competition (76), averaging almost 16 per match. And fly at about 240 km/h. An explosive and charismatic left-hander. A time bomb, disconnected this time. He only added 5 ‘aces’, accumulated 5 double faults.

Too much scenery, transcendence and, above all, rivalries. Djokovic It is planted in concentrated plants. With respect to the opponent, psyched out in case the game heats up and the stands help heat up the atmosphere, as it did when Shelton let go when he saw elimination close.

Djokovic soon doused Shelton with cold water and the fans, installed under the Arthur Ashe roof, shut down due to a storm warning. In the sixth game, for the first time, ‘break’ of Djokovic. Neat, patient, intense. Showcasing his reputation as a big winner, an unrepentant competitor. SA Shelton The world fell on him. It was a blow to his natural momentum. Nervousness increased.

With a double fault he eased into the break which started to unbalance the second set. Sheltonwhich was still anarchic in strategy and decision-making, suffered the force of Djokovicwho in just an hour and a quarter put a foot and a half in the final.

It was intuited, it happened. Djokovicin another sphere Shelton, who had never played against him, who had not experienced equal tennis from his previous rivals. Furthermore, in a semi-final what was a game becomes a serious matter. The head starts to spin. The American showed his best version when he freed himself by force. Djokovic went up from 4-1 in the third set, he was cheered on by the fans. He recovered until he was ahead 5-4, even with set point.

A mirage caused by that tension of closing the pass in the final from which even the biggest cannot escape. It cost ‘Nole’, who also did not seal 6-5 and ‘match-ball’. It went to a tiebreak, not necessarily because of how the rivalry went.

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Djokovic He celebrated his 100th match at Flushing Meadows with his 87th tournament victory. Rounding out his fine balance in the Grand Slam semis: 36-11.

He Djokovic always, a Shelton that still has a long way to go. The faculties are there, it is still green for these types of situations.