Written by: Nolwazi Zondi
Novak Djokovic celebrated his quarter-final victory against 4th seed, Taylor Fritz, in K-Pop style by giving the audience a little shimmy shimmy from the show Demon Hunters – a dedication to his daughter for her birthday. ‘It’s my daughter’s birthday so this is a big present for her…she told me how to dance…Hopefully I’ll make her smile when she wakes up tomorrow morning,’ said the 24-time grand slam champion, who made more than just his daughter smile.
Djokovic is not just bringing out new moves but aims to spice up and disrupt the anticipated final of Sinner and Alcaraz – as he continues his strong run for that 25th grand slam and 5th US Open title.
‘Everybody is probably expecting and anticipating the finals between the two of them…I’m going to try to mess up the plans of most of the people,’ said the Demon Hunter’s new star.
Djokovic will go head to head with world no. 2, Carlos Alcaraz on Friday for a blockbuster rematch, where Alcaraz will be seeking revenge from the Australian Open in January. Will new moves or fresh cuts take the final? World no. 1, Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, breezed into the semis after defeating fellow Italian, Lorenzo Musetti 6-1; 6-4; 6-2.
‘We know each other very well…we are from the same country. We have so many Italian players every time in the draw. I know here, there are so many Italians so it’s nice to play here…We had to take the friendship away for the match and then obviously when we shake hands everything is fine,’ stated Sinner.
The four-time grand slam champion is looking to complete a full set of finals in 2025 when facing Felix Auger- Aliassime, on Friday. The 25th seed will be making his second run to the final four of a major after he made the same stage in 2021. The Canadian has revealed that he will have to postpone a key date ahead of his wedding day due to his progress in New York. Auger-Aliassime will be getting married to his partner, Nina Ghaibi two weeks after the US Open Final.
Unsure of what he’s more nervous for, the aisle or the semis, the 25th seed stated, ‘I don’t know..The good thing is I was in the semi-finals before. Walking down the aisle, I’ve never done it, so you know, when it’s the first, it’s a special feeling for sure.. So I’m looking forward to it.’
But before the aisle will he end the Italians 26 match winning streak Djokovic; Alacaraz; Sinner and Auger- Aliassime! Who will bow out? And who will be in the last dance?
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