Djokovic sets up Alcaraz blockbuster semi

Novak Djokovic advanced to a blockbuster US Open showdown with Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday as reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka vaulted into the semifinals without having to lift her racquet.

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Djokovic snuffed out Taylor Fritz’s hopes of becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since 2003 with a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 quarterfinal victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

The win sent the 38-year-old Serbian — chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam victory — into a mouthwatering semifinal against Spanish second seed Alcaraz tomorrow.

Djokovic clinched victory when fourth seed Fritz double-faulted on match point in the 10th game of the final set and could not hide his relief at finally emerging victorious.

“In this kind of match a few points on either side decide the winner,’ he said. “It was an incredibly close match. It was really anybody’s match?”

Fritz was left ruing his failure to make the most of the opportunities that came his way, converting only two of 13 points during an absorbing three-hour 24-minute battle.

The American fourth seed squandered five break points in the opening set that would have made it 5-4, instead allowing Djokovic to wriggle off the hook and take a one-set lead.