Djokovic beats heat and Millman to reach U.S. Open semis
06 September, 2018
Novak Djokovic sweated it out from behind the baseline to beat Australian John Millman 6-3 6-4 6-4 at the U.S. Open on Wednesday and set up a semi-final with Japan's Kei Nishikori.
Djokovic, a two-times champion at Flushing Meadows, struggled with the humidity at Arthur Ashe Stadium but kept his cool mentally, saving the only break point he faced in the first set and wrapping up the opener in an hour.
"(I was) very tested," Djokovic said. "Almost three hours. It's midnight now. Credit to John for putting up a great battle."
Millman is used to the searing heat in his native Brisbane, but needed to leave court to change with the score level at 2-2 in the second, telling the umpire he was unable to put the ball in his pocket because his shorts were soaked through with sweat.
The U.S. Tennis Association said in a statement that Millman was sweating so profusely that the moisture dripping onto court had made the surface too dangerous to play on.
"These night matches the humidity goes through the roof," Millman said. "It is tricky, but it's the same for both people. You're dripping.
"But that's no excuse or anything. I'd play in a swimming pool if I got to play a quarter-final every week at a Grand Slam. That would be pretty fun."
Millman, who beat Roger Federer in the previous round, returned after a brief interval but found no joy against Djokovic's serve and the Serb broke the Australian in the penultimate game before serving out the second set.
The match was marked by long rallies, with 57 of the pair's exchanges stretching to more than nine shots.
"I was struggling, he was struggling," Djokovic added. "Changing a lot of t-shirts, shorts and just trying to hang in there and find a way to win the match.
"Not easy conditions to play in, but it's the same for both players."
Djokovic broke early to take a 3-1 leave in the third set but a lapse in concentration allowed Millman to draw level.
The Serb was given a time violation warning and double faulted to offer Millman a break point opportunity before losing his first serve after running down the shot clock a second time.
A forehand error from Djokovic let Millman level at 3-3 but the sixth seed carved out three break points in the next game, converting the third before serving out the match and sealing the win with a backhand volley in two hours, 48 minutes.
Nishikori takes revenge on Cilic
Kei Nishikori advanced to the U.S. Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a grinding 2-6 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6-6-4 win over Marin Cilic, gaining a small measure of revenge on the man who crushed his grand slam dream in the 2014 final.
The victory also completed a historic day for Japanese tennis with Naomi Osaka routing Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 6-1 6-1 and the pair became the first Japanese man and woman to reach the semi-finals of the same grand slam.
"It's great to see," said Nishikori. "I think she can win a title now, even though grand slam. I feel it is a big chance for her. I am also happy for myself."
Keys locks another U.S. Open semi-final
American Madison Keys clinched her second consecutive U.S. Open semi-final berth on Wednesday, using her powerful serve to get an edge on 30th seed Carla Suarez Navarro and win 6-4 6-3.
While the pair initially seemed evenly matched, the momentum shifted in Keys' favour in the second set of the 83-minute affair, as she dominated with her powerful service game.
"I felt good today. You know, being out in front of an energetic crowd is always fun," Keys said in an on-court interview after the match. "I still haven't totally processed this match."
Keys, who lost the final last year to Sloane Stephens, faces Naomi Osaka of Japan in the semi-finals on Thursday. Neither have won a grand slam title.