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| Novak Djokovic is just two wins away from completing the fable calendar Grand Slam |
World number one Novak Djokovic saw off Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open on Wednesday then swatted away questions about his bid to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to sweep all four majors in the same calendar year.
Djokovic overcame a slow start against the Italian sixth seed before wrapping up a 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory and moving a step closer to his 21st Grand Slam title.
The Serb, who will take on German fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, cut off Patrick McEnroe when he edged towards the subject in an on-court interview.
โYou donโt have to ask me anything about that,โ said Djokovic. โI donโt want to think about it, I know itโs there, just focusing on the next match and letโs go step-by-step.โ
He was also determined not to talk about it in the post-match new conference.
โI have had enough of answering that. I just said millions of times that, of course, Iโm aware of the history, of course it gives me motivation,โ said the 34-year-old.
โIf I start to think about it too much, it burdens me mentally. I want to really go back to the basics and what really works for me mentally.โ
Djokovic, tied with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal on 20 majors, acknowledged he was in a unique position but added that he expected a battle against Zverev, who denied him a shot at a โGolden Slamโ by winning their Tokyo Olympics semi-final.
โThese are the hurdles that I need to overcome in order to get to the desired destination โฆ but I know what works for me to win just the next match,โ he said.
โSo thatโs the reason why I stopped Patrick โฆ letโs talk about it (making history) hopefully on Sunday.โ
Order of play on the main show court on the 12th day of the U.S. Open on Friday (prefix number denotes seeding):
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
Menโs doubles final (1600 GMT/12 PM ET)
4-Rajeev Ram (U.S.)/Joe Salisbury (Britain) v 7-Jamie Murray (Britain)/Bruno Soares (Brazil)
Menโs singles semi-finals
12-Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) v 2-Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 4-Alexander Zverev (Germany)
REUTERS
