Novak Djokovic put on one of his most impressive physical and tactical performances to win a 24th Grand Slam title

On Monday afternoon at the US Open, Rublev moved through to his ninth major quarterfinal with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jack Draper on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The eighth seed created 17 break points against the big-serving lefty, converting four on his way to advancing after two hours and 45 minutes.

Rublev’s first trip to the last eight on the Grand Slam stage came six years ago with his initial breakthrough run as a 19-year-old. He’s now made the quarterfinals at three of the four majors in 2023 and four overall at Flushing Meadows. But there’s still the elephant in the room: he’s 0-8 once he arrives to this juncture of a Grand Slam event.

Perhaps getting out of a synchronized pattern with Jessica Pegula might do the trick, as @AnnaK_4ever pointed out on X (formerly known as Twitter). The American went down to countrywoman Madison Keys earlier Monday to see her singles bid ended. Pegula and Rublev had posted the same end result at the prior five majors, linked in a series of agonizing defeats.

Rublev upped his season record to 44-17.

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But there’s still the elephant in the room: he’s 0-8 once he arrives to this juncture of a Grand Slam event. His experiences at the two hard-court majors have been especially brutal, combining to go zero for 15 in sets played.

Rublev's first eight major QFs:

2017 US Open: l. to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
2020 US Open: l. to world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, 7-6 (6), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
2020 Roland Garros: l. to world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
2021 Australian Open: l. to world No. 4 Daniil Medvedev, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2
2022 Roland Garros: l. to world No. 23 Marin Cilic, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-2)
2022 US Open: l. to world No. 26 Frances Tiafoe, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (9), 6-4
2023 Australian Open: l. to world No. 5 Novak Djokovic, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
2023 Wimbledon: l. to world No. 2 Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3

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For that elusive semifinal, Rublev could be forced to surmount one of his best friends on tour in Daniil Medvedev. The 2021 US Open champion meets Alex de Minaur later in the day and is responsible for two of Rublev’s quarterfinal defeats—winning in straight sets here three years ago and again at the 2021 Australian Open.

Will Rublev tune in to see the world No. 3 battle the Australian? Timing will soon tell.

“Depends when he will play. If he will play when I will have dinner, no chance. If he will play later when I will back in the room, then obviously I will watch,” Rublev said on court.

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