Novak Djokovic has flown into another US Open quarterfinal after beating Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round.
ATP number seven Djokovic needed just one hour and 49 minutes to beat German qualifier Struff in New York.
He won their US Open encounter 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing a 14th US Open quarterfinal spot.
Djokovic, who has won the hard-court Grand Slam on four occasions, now takes on home favorite Taylor Fritz in the last eight.
Fourth seed Fritz, who lost the 2024 US Open final to Jannik Sinner, overcame Tomas Machac in straight sets to set up his tie with the Serbian.
Jan-Lennard Struff shares Novak Djokovic verdict after losing to him at the US Open
Struff meanwhile exits with his head held high, having knocked out both Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe before falling to Djokovic.
Analysing their match in German, he told Sporteurope TV: “It just didn’t start well. It was difficult to find a bit of rhythm straight away at 0-4.
“It was my first time playing on Arthur Ashe in front of an audience. I played there once during the covid period without spectators and unfortunately lost quite easily in the third round.
READ MORE: What Novak Djokovic said to Zachary Svajda at the net after winning their US Open second round match
“For me that was a bit of a new experience. I did play against [Carlos] Alcaraz at Centre Court at Wimbledon but here was a bit different.
“The dimensions, lots of people there, it felt a bit louder. I think I made a few mistakes on my own. I felt the pressure was on the whole time.
“Unfortunately I didn’t serve well enough, of course because he makes a lot of returns, and I always had the feeling that every return was long or was short and flat.
“At the beginning I also made a few too many mistakes. The arm wasn’t completely free. I was overthinking a bit.
“I actually got into it quite well, it was 3-3 in the second set and had a pretty good feeling from 0-4 onwards but then it was just like he punished every mistake straight away.”
Jan-Lennard Struff and Novak Djokovic reduce American winner chances at US Open
Struff impressed before the main draw even started, beating Taro Daniel and top seed Arthur Cazaux in qualifying.
But the top performances certainly didn’t end there, with the German battling past American Mackenzie McDonald in round one.
A superb round two win over 11th seed Rune followed, before Struff caused another major upset by beating 17th seed Tiafoe in straight sets.
Like Struff impressively did, Djokovic has knocked out two American players in New York, and is now looking to add Fritz’s name to that list.
He’s already beaten Learner Tien and Zachary Svajda, rapidly reducing the chances of a men’s home winner at Flushing Meadows.
Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul are also out of the hard-court Grand Slam, leaving Fritz as the only American man left standing.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
