Djokovic prevails where Federer failed
WHERE Roger Federer failed, Novak Djokovic prevailed. Forty-eight hours after the 37-year-old Swiss suffered one of the most shocking defeats of his career when he was beaten by John Millman, Djokovic swept aside the Australian yesterday to secure his place in the semifinals of the US Open.
Djokovic, who was won all 11 of the quarterfinals he has played here, beat Millman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 48 minutes on another sweltering night in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On Monday Millman had ended Federer’s run of 40 consecutive US Open victories over players ranked outside the world’s top 50 as the world No. 2 struggled to cope with the stifling heat and humidity.
Djokovic has had his own troubles in the gruelling conditions here, but although there were moments when he again looked distressed the 31-year-old Serb proved a more resilient opponent.
He was helped, no doubt, by one of the most unusual breaks ever seen at a Grand Slam tournament. At 2-2 in the second set Millman was allowed to leave the court to change his kit (pix), after the umpire ruled that the playing surface had become dangerous because of the floods of sweat dripping off the 29-year-old Australian.
While Millman was off the court Djokovic sat shirtless in his chair and asked to see the tournament doctor, who gave him a nasal spray. He also appeared to take some salt tablets, though he would not confirm afterwards what they were.
Djokovic said the conditions at this year’s tournament were the toughest he had known in the last 10 years. He said he had never sweated as much and echoed Federer’s comments about a lack of air in the stadium, saying it was a problem the tournament needed to address.
“Whether it’s night or day, we just don’t have air down there,” he said. “It feels like a sauna.”
He added: “I personally have never sweated as much as I have here. Incredible. I have to take at least 10 shirts for every match. After two games you’re literally soaking. Roger never sweats that much, but look how he was a couple of nights ago.”
Djokovic also paid credit to his opponent. “He makes you miss balls and makes you earn the point,” the Serb said. “He doesn’t miss a lot himself. He just runs left, right, gets a lot of balls. Very slow conditions, slow balls, and he just gets a lot of balls back.
“Tactically, you’ve got to find the right balance between being patient but constructive in the point, but at the same time be aggressive and take the chance when you have a shorter ball. It’s easier said than done, especially in these kind of conditions.”
Millman said he had “left it all out there” but had just come up a little short. “Novak is a champion,” he said. “It’s not so easy to play Roger and then to play Novak.
“I think Novak sometimes flies under the radar a little bit, but the guy’s won a lot of Grand Slams, he knows how to win them and he knows what this is all about.
He’s probably one of the most in-form players after winning Wimbledon and Cincinnati coming into this tournament.” – The Independent