Djoker ends Millman’s run

NOVAK Djokovic put aside his unheralded opponent’s middle-of-aset costume change, consecutive time violations and 16 break points wasted to do what Roger Federer could not do two nights earlier. The Serb moved a step closer to a third championship at Flushing Meadows and 14th Grand Slam title overall by eliminating Australian giant killer John Millman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to get to the tournament’s semi-finals for the 11th time.

AAP TENNIS NOVAK Djokovic put aside his unheralded opponent’s middle-of-a-set costume change, consecutive time violations and 16 break points wasted to do what Roger Federer could not do two nights earlier.

Djokovic moved a step closer to a third championship at Flushing Meadows and 14th Grand Slam title overall by eliminating Millman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to get to the tournament’s semi-finals for an 11th appearance in a row.

The No.6-seeded Djokovic, who won Wimbledon in July, had been drawn to face Federer in the quarter-finals. But Millman scuttled that showdown by stunning the 20-time Grand Slam champ in four sets in the fourth round on a hot and humid evening that Federer said sapped his energy and made it hard to breathe.

This night was cooler, as the temperature dipped into the 70s (21°C), but the humidity was above 80 per cent, so with Millman drenched, he sought permission for a wardrobe change at 2-all in the second set.

It was odd enough to see a player be allowed to do that during, instead of after, a set, but even odder for it to happen after an even number of games, rather than at an oddgame changeover.

“I was struggling. He was struggling. We were all sweating. Changing a lot of T-shirts, shorts,” said Djokovic, who will face 2014 US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori tomorrow.

When Millman apologised for leaving the court at that juncture, Djokovic replied, “I’m fine to have a little rest,” then sat down on his sideline bench without a shirt on and cooled off.

“Definitely not easy conditions to play in,” Djokovic said, “but same for both players.”

Widely considered the best returner in the game, he kept accumulating chances – and then failing to cash them in.

Djokovic was able to only come through on four of his 20 break points.

There were other issues for him, too, including in the third set when, ahead by a break, he was called by the chair umpire for allowing the 25-second serve clock, making its Grand Slam debut at this tournament, run out on back-to-back points.

After the first, he doublefaulted, and he wound up getting broken there.

But he broke back in the match’s next-to-last game, then served out the victory at love.

I WAS STRUGGLING. HE WAS STRUGGLING. WE WERE ALL SWEATING. CHANGING A LOT OF TSHIRTS, SHORTS JUST TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO HANG IN THERE.