Novak Djokovic enters Cincinnati Open semis, Carlos Alcaraz joins Serb

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic got the better of Taylor Fritz, while Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz had to push hard to get past Max Purcell on Friday as the top two seeds reached the semi-finals at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open.

Tournament No. 2 Djokovic showed no mercy against Fritz, hammering the top American 6-0, 6-4 to improve to 7-0 against him.

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World No. 1 Alcaraz rallied to hold off Australian qualifier Purcell 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. "I managed to get out of the blocks with a flawless start. I'm feeling better on court. I hope the same trajectory can continue," added Djokovic, who next faces German Alexander Zverev.

Meanwhile, Djokovic had a short night in his first singles match in the U.S. since 2021, beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday in the Western and Southern Open after the Spaniard retired early in the second set with a lower back injury.

The second-ranked Djokovic won the first set 6-4, then two points into the second set, Davidovich Fokina hunched over in pain following his return and ended the match after 46 minutes. "Kind of a mixed emotions tonight," Djokovic said. "Really like Alejandro. Get along really well off the court. We train with each other while in Spain. He told me he has a lower back issue that appeared yesterday. It's unfortunate."

Djokovic, 36, lost in doubles on Tuesday in his return to the country after missing events because of COVID-19 vaccine restrictions. It's his first appearance in Cincinnati since 2019. The 2020 Western & Southern Open was played in New York due to COVID-19.

(With agency inputs)