Djokovic blowing a kiss to the booing crowd became a memorable moment in his victory over Fritz, while his match against Alcaraz is dubbed mutual destruction.

When Fritz lost the match due to a double fault, many viewed the American No.1 as disappointing and underachieving.

Before the match, few had high hopes because Djokovic had beaten Fritz ten times in a row, indicating the Serbian king’s deep knowledge of the American and how to beat him. Fritz’s limited playing style made it extremely difficult to challenge Djokovic, despite the latter being 38 years old.

However, Fritz believed he had the confidence to topple Djokovic at the US Open! He reasoned that although he lost to Djokovic at last year’s Shanghai Masters, it was a close match, a narrow defeat. This belief fueled Fritz’s conviction that with more effort, he could finally break his ten-match losing streak.

Fritz’s strong confidence and desire for revenge, combined with Djokovic’s current injury, made many eager to see if the American could transform his belief into a favorable result in the first set, creating trouble for Djokovic and gaining an advantage for his comeback.

But after Djokovic took the first two sets 6-3 and 7-5, disappointment flooded the live chat with fans expressing their frustration with Fritz.

With Djokovic on the verge of victory, it was almost impossible for Fritz to stage a comeback. Djokovic has often taken the first two sets in Grand Slams and only once was reversed, at the French Open. Given Fritz’s overall level, becoming the second-best player is a huge challenge.

As the four-set battle concluded, it was clear Fritz struggled to change his fate as the perennial runner-up, suffering an embarrassing eleventh straight loss.

Critics voiced disappointment in Fritz’s performance, attributing it partly to two other factors.

Djokovic’s play was not flawless; he gave Fritz many chances, but the American failed to seize them.

Another factor was the crowd’s constant support for Fritz, using various noises and boos to disrupt Djokovic’s rhythm, hoping to provoke him and indirectly aid Fritz’s quest for revenge.

For example, in the second set, after Fritz broke Djokovic’s serve to level the score, some fans directly confronted the Serbian star. When Djokovic sealed the set 7-5 with a clutch performance, he amusingly blew a kiss to the heckler, thanking him for giving him the motivation to win that set.

This moment, captured on the live broadcast, made the audience laugh and applaud. Fans online praised Djokovic’s resilience, noting how he built an almost invincible mental shield against hostile home crowd interference, turning it into a memorable highlight of this US Open.

Moreover, Djokovic losing the third set led many to believe it was due to crowd interference. Djokovic’s complaints to the umpire and the booing he received even when changing rackets confirmed this.

Some said that if the home crowd hadn’t been so intent on helping Fritz, the match might have ended in three sets, denying Fritz a fourth set chance.

Despite the crowd’s support, Fritz still couldn’t overcome 38-year-old Djokovic. In the fourth set, Djokovic pressured Fritz’s serve to match point, and Fritz’s final double fault ended the match, highlighting the tragic fate of the American No.1.

As the upcoming clash between Djokovic and Alcaraz approaches, it is already dubbed a “super mutual destruction” battle.

For Alcaraz, losing to Djokovic would mean missing out early on both the world No.1 ranking and a second US Open title, a double blow that would deeply wound the Spaniard.

For Djokovic, the US Open is seen as his last chance to claim a 25th Grand Slam. Losing to Alcaraz would leave that dream forever out of reach, forcing him to leave New York with a heartbreaking defeat.

Many support Djokovic reaching the final, believing Alcaraz, being young, will have future chances to win the US Open. However, some say the Spaniard will not go easy on Djokovic, doing everything possible to stop him, as honor and wealth harden one’s resolve. This anticipation is why the upcoming showdown is already highly anticipated, with everyone eager to see what will happen.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Starry Sky)