Novak Djokovic Reaches His 10th US Open Final by Hanging up the Phone on American Ben Shelton

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory against Ben Shelton of the United States during their Men's Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2023 US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City on Sept. 8, 2023. Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK—Novak Djokovic limited big-serving Ben Shelton to five aces and broke him five times. He pushed back when the 20-year-old unseeded American produced a late stand that got the home crowd into the match.

And after finishing off a 6–3, 6–2, 7–6 (4) victory to reach his record-tying 10th U.S. Open final and 36th at all major tournaments, Djokovic added a touch of insult to injury by mimicking the kid’s “Hang up the phone!” celebration gesture.