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American sixth seed Coco Gauff has bolstered her hopes of securing a maiden grand slam title, enjoying a stress-free 6-0, 6-2 win over Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko to reach the US Open semifinals.
Key points:
- Coco Gauff, 19, is the youngest American to reach the US Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001
- Gauff reached the second grand slam semifinal of her career
- Novak Djokovic reached a record 47th grand slam semifinal with a straight-sets win over Taylor Fritz
In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic beat ninth-seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets.
Gauff, whose lead-up to the US Open included hardcourt titles in Washington and Cincinnati, converted six of her seven break points and dropped serve just once during a steamy 67-minute match at Arthur Ashe Stadium where the temperature rose above 32 degrees Celsius.
"It feels great, so happy," Gauff said during her on-court interview on Tuesday.
"Last year I lost in the quarterfinal stage and I wanted to do better this year.
"I am happy and ready to get back to work for the next one."
Ostapenko entered the match full of confidence having upset world number one Iga Świątek in the previous round.
But against Gauff, the misfiring Latvian 20th seed could not find her range and delivered an error-filled performance.
Gauff was in control from the start and showcased excellent court coverage while delivering a steady stream of balls deep into the corners en route to capturing the first set in 20 minutes and limiting Ostapenko to seven points.
Former French Open champion Ostapenko, playing in her first US Open quarterfinal, finally got on the board with a break to level the second set at 1-1 but Gauff never wavered and broke back for a 2-1 lead with a backhand crosscourt winner.
Ostapenko held serve for the first time 49 minutes into the match but 19-year-old Gauff went up a double break for a 5-2 lead before closing out the encounter on her serve despite falling behind 0-30.
By the time it was over, Ostapenko had 36 unforced errors compared to Gauff's 14.
With the win, Gauff avenged her round of 16 loss to the Latvian at this year's Australian Open, which left the American in tears.
Despite delivering a lopsided win to reach the second semifinal of her career, Gauff said she never felt comfortable on the court against Ostapenko.
"I know the game she plays, she has the ability to come back no matter the scoreline, so I was just really trying to get every point, trying to play every ball in," said Gauff.
"It's really tough against her because you can't really be aggressive, so I was trying my best to be aggressive when I could and most of the time I was just trying to get the ball deep."
Up next for Gauff, who is the youngest American to reach the US Open semifinals since Serena Williams in 2001, will be Czech 10th seed and French Open finalist Karolina Muchová, who beat Romanian 30th seed Sorana Cîrstea 6-0, 6-3 in the night session.
Novak Djokovic cruises through
In Tuesday's first men's quarterfinal, which was played with the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof partly closed to offer some shade as temperature rose above 32 degrees Celsius and the humidity above 50 per cent, 23-time major champion Djokovic made short work of Fritz.
The number two seed demolished the number nine seed 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours 35 minutes.
Djokovic improved to 8-0 against Fritz and 13-0 in US Open quarterfinals.
The Serbian star will now play in his 47th grand slam semifinal overall, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for the most by a man.
"This is the sport that has given me so much in my life," Djokovic said after being told of the latest record that he has broken.
"I was lucky to encounter some very knowledgeable and passionate people and without their support and my parents, who are here, I wouldn't be here without their love and incredible sacrifice.
"That is the long answer for what goes through my head when I hear those numbers [of the records he has broken]. There's a lot of things I am very grateful for.
"It is a huge opportunity every time I step out on the court at this stage of my life. I don't know how many more opportunities I will get so I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can."
Djokovic will now meet unseeded American Ben Shelton, who defeated 10th seed Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(9/7), 6-2.
Shelton into final four
Ben Shelton is still just 20, still new to this whole professional tennis thing. He is equipped with a tremendously good serve, but don't think he can't come through in other ways when it matters the most.
On a muggy night in which, yes, he hit 14 aces but also 11 double-faults, Shelton used one blink-and-you-missed-it booming return to save a set point in the third set pivotal tiebreaker and reached his first slam semifinal by defeating Tiafoe.
"Sometimes you've got to shut off the brain, close your eyes and just swing," Shelton said about his forehand return winner off a second serve that prevented Tiafoe from taking a two-sets-to-one lead.
"Some may say 'clutch,' but I don't know about all that."
The match-up was the first major quarterfinal between two African-American men in the Open era, which dates back to 1968.
It was also the first US Open quarterfinal since 2005 between two men from the host country, which hasn't claimed a slam trophy in men's singles since Andy Roddick won at Flushing Meadows two years prior to that.
And Shelton is up against it to do so when he next takes on Djokovic.
AP
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