Novak Djokovic rarely imitates another player’s celebration, but after defeating Ben Shelton in the US Open semifinals, he did so because he found the youngster’s to be so amusing. Djokovic defeated emerging prodigy Shelton with ease, winning 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), and moving on to the record-tying 10th US Open final, where he will take on Daniil Medvedev on Sunday.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion celebrated by lifting an imaginary phone and slamming it down, as the American had done during the competition, soon after the match. It was initially believed that the tennis legend was making fun of the 20-year-old, but that was untrue at least according to his own words.

“I just love Ben’s celebration. I thought it was very original and I copied him. I stole his celebration,” said Djokovic.

Here is the video.

Djokovic at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2023

Ranked world no.2, Djokovic owns a compiled 44-5 win-loss record in 2023. The Serbian is currently playing at the U.S. Open where he ousted the world no.84 Alexandre Muller 6-0 6-2 6-3, the world no.76 Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-4 6-1 6-1, the world no.38 Laslo Djere 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-3, the world no.105 Borna Gojo 6-2 7-5 6-4, the world no.9 Taylor Fritz 6-1 6-4 6-4 and the world no.47 Ben Shelton 6-3 6-2 7-6⁴.

Novak Djokovic will play the world no.3 Daniil Medvedev in the final. Their current record is 9-5

for Djokovic.

Novak clinched 4 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open, French Open and Cincinnati. Novak reached the final in Wimbledon.

Novak won 95 titles in his career: 51 on hard courts, 19 on clay courts, 17 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

Ben Shelton in 2023

Now the world no.47, Shelton played his last match on the 8^th of September when he capitulated to world no.2 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 7-6(4) in the semifinal of the U.S. Open (draw).

At the moment, during this season the American achieved a composed 19-23 record. Ben Shelton’s most significant achievement of the present season was getting to the semifinal in the Cagliari Challenger and at the U.S. Open.

Novak Djokovic and Ben Shelton played each other just on 1 occasion. Their record is 1-0 for Djokovic. When they played, Novak Djokovic won 6-3 6-2 7-6(4) in the semifinal in New York (U.S. Open) on the 8^th of September 2023.

Here are the highlights.