Novak Djokovic has taken another step closer to setting the all-time record in Grand Slam titles after beating Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals round of the 2021 US Open .

Djokovic entered that US Open match as a heavy favorite but had to work a bit harder to score the win. Berrettini, who also lost to Djokovic back in the finals of the 2021 Wimbledon last July, took the first set before dropping the next four sets.

After the match, Djokovic had nothing but kind words for the 25-year-old Italian, per the ATP Tour's official website.

“It was a great match, a lot of energy on the court, off the court as well. Matteo is a terrific player, an established Top 10 player. Every time we face each other it’s a close battle,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview.

Djokovic will next face Alexander Zverev in the semifinals of the US Open, and that will be another considerable test for the world's No. 1 player. Zverev has won three times in nine ATP Tour matches against Djokovic, including in the semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

A win against Zverev will put Djokovic, who has three US Open titles, a victory away from becoming the solo leader in all-time Grand Slam championships. As of the moment, he's tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with 20 slam titles apiece.