In a gritty display of determination, Novak Djokovic faced scorching temperatures to beat a resilient Taylor Fritz in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday, January 23.

The Serbian looked to be struggling with the challenging conditions but managed to outclass the American 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

The win has propelled the world number one towards a potential record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.

Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Taylor Fritz. Photo: Shi Tang. — Novak Djokovic celebrates the victory in an Australian Open men's singles quarter-final match against Taylor Fritz. Photo: Shi Tang.
Source: Getty Images

Djokovic commented after the match, as quoted by France24:

"It was extremely hot when the sun was still out there. Physically and emotionally, it is very draining. A huge round of applause to Fritz for a great performance today and this tournament.

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The Serbian ace's triumph marked his 33rd consecutive victory in Melbourne, an impressive streak dating back to 2018. Notably, he was absent from the 2022 event due to his Covid-19 vaccination status.

The 36-year-old entered the match with an impeccable 8-0 record against the American 12th seed. He navigated through a challenging first set that endured for 84 minutes.

He is now set to face either Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals on Sunday, January 28.

Eyeing his 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown, Djokovic showcased his resilience in a hard-fought battle that placed him one step closer to his historic goal.

Coco Gauff secures Aus Open semi-final spot

On the women's side of the tournament, US Open champion Coco Gauff secured her place in the semi-finals after defeating Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, as reported by Forbes.

Despite giving herself only a 'C' rating for her performance, the American world fourth seed emerged victorious with a score of 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 after three hours of play.

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Gauff, facing stifling conditions at Rod Laver Arena, expressed hope that her less-than-ideal performance was a one-off. She is now set to face either defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka or ninth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova in the semi-finals on Thursday, January 25.

The match between Gauff and Kostyuk saw a low-quality contest, marked by 16 service breaks and a combined 107 unforced errors.

Although the quality of the match may have been subpar, both players fought valiantly, with Kostyuk expressing pride in her performance despite the defeat.