Imitation is flattery, says Shelton, after Djokovic copies phone celebration

Novak Djokovic knocked out statesman Ben Shelton in the US Open semi-final on Friday and proceeded to use Shelton's trademark celebration after securing the victory

Novak Djokovic reacts to the crowd after defeating Ben Shelton during the men's singles semi-finals of the U.S. Open in New York. Picture: Manu Fernandez.

A dialed-in Novak Djokovic disconnected Ben Shelton's dream U.S. Open run in the semi-finals on Friday, twisting the knife as he copied the young American's favoured on-court celebration after clinching it in three sets.

The veteran Djokovic held off a late-match surge from the 20-year-old to reach his 10th U.S. Open final before he mimed answering the phone - and hanging up - to subvert the viral post-win gesture that Shelton has used in New York.