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Stat of the Day: Novak Djokovic has now won 17 of his last 18 Grand Slam semifinals

The Serb beat Alexander Zverev on Friday night to reach his record-tying 31st Grand Slam final.

By Baseline Staff
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 10: (L-R) Alexander Zverev of Germany and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embrace at center court after Djokovic won their Men’s Singles semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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When the going gets tough, the tough get going—that’s exactly what champions do, and 20-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has done it a lot.

The No. 1-ranked Serb rallied from a set down to beat No. 4-ranked Alexander Zverev in five sets at the US Open on Friday night, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Djokovic has now won 17 of his last 18 Grand Slam semifinals.

The Serb’s only loss at this stage of a major in the last seven years came to Dominic Thiem in the semifinals of Roland Garros in 2019, and he very nearly won that one too, ultimately succumbing to the Austrian, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5.

He’s now through to his 31st career Grand Slam final, tying the all-time record.

MOST CAREER GRAND SLAM FINALS (men)
31: Roger Federer (20-11)
31: Novak Djokovic (20-10)
28: Rafael Nadal (20-8)
19: Ivan Lendl (8-11)
18: Pete Sampras (14-4)

Djokovic will go for a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title—as well as the Calendar Slam—as he faces No. 2-ranked Daniil Medvedev on Sunday.