Novak Djokovic defeated Taylor Fritz and broke a record previously held by old rival Roger Federer to reach the semi-finals of the US Open in sticky New York.
The ice-cold Serbian is through to the last four of a grand slam for the 47th time, moving him one ahead of Roger Federer's tally, after a 6-1 6-4 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz.
The roof was half-closed on Arthur Ashe to shield the players from the 90 degree temperatures amid energy-sapping humidity at Flushing Meadows.
American Fritz has been red hot all fortnight, not dropping a single set on his way to the last 16, but he was ruthlessly extinguished by the 23-time grand slam champion.
A demoralised Fritz has now lost all eight matches he has played against Djokovic.
The ninth seed hit more winners – 33 to Djokovic’s 25 – but he was simply ground down by the 36-year-old with a grand total of 51 unforced errors telling its own story.
He also forced 12 break points but converted only two of them, the second of which levelled the third set at 4-4 and prompted Djokovic to shoo some of his own supporters out of one of the executive suites.
But Djokovic immediately hit back, the three-time winner then saving another break point before completing the victory in two hours and 35 minutes to silence a partisan American crowd.
Djokovic said: "It’s expected that people are backing the home player, there’s nothing wrong with that. I like the atmosphere here, I’m fine with that and I thrive on that energy.
"I’ve been playing on this court for many years, played many epic matches, and I’m looking forward to another one in a few days.
"It’s a huge opportunity every time I step out on the court and at my age I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll get."
Djokovic later revealed he did not know the identity of the spectator he had gestured to leave the box, after admitting the man put him off by yelling during a point.
"Yeah. Yeah, he did. He was actually in the box where some of my friends were," added Djokovic.
"I don't know who the guy was, but yeah, I was pretty annoyed by him at that point. I was communicating with my friends to have a little chat with him."
Big-hitting Ben Shelton blasted his way past Frances Tiafoe 6-2 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 and into the semi-finals in an all-American match up that lived up to its blockbuster billing.
With the victory the 20-year-old Shelton becomes the youngest American to reach the men's last four since Michael Chang in 1992, setting up a meeting with Djokovic.
"He (Djokovic) has won 23 of these (Grand Slams), it doesn't get much better than that," said Shelton. "It's been tough the last two matches, I've been playing Americans but hopefully you guys bring it for me two nights in a row."
The 10th seeded Tiafoe, who electrified the home crowd with a run to the semi-finals last year, had dropped only one set en route to the quarter-finals but it did not take long for Shelton to take a second.
Shelton came out guns blazing, with his groundstrokes struck with such venom they drew gasps from the capacity crowd.
After holding his first two serves Tiafoe had no answers for his opponent's explosive forehand as Shelton claimed five straight games to snatch opening set.
But there was no panic from Tiafoe as he got to grips with Shelton's big swings, which started to miss the mark.
He would get his first break chances of the match in the sixth game of the second and levelled at a set apiece.
In a wild third set the momentum seemed to swing on every serve with six breaks, three from each player, in the first eight games.
The set would go to a tie-break that was just as unpredictable with Shelton taking back-to-back double faults, including one on set point, before finally winning it 9-7.
There was no mistaking where the momentum was going into the fourth with Shelton hammering a backhand winner down the line that a flat-footed Tiafoe could only watch to clinch the early break.
Another break at 5-2 and Tiafoe's fate was sealed with Shelton holding serve for the win.
