China Daily Global Edition (USA)
No sweat for super cool Djokovic
Serbian maestro outduels Millman to reach 11th straight US Open semifinal
NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic put everything aside on Wednesday night — from his opponent’s unprecedented middle-of-a-set change of clothing to consecutive time violations because he let the serve clock expire.
Not to mention the 16 break points the Serbian wasted.
But in the end, all that mattered was that Djokovic did what Roger Federer failed to manage two nights earlier: beat 55th-ranked John Millman of Australia at the US Open.
After sitting out last year because of an injured right elbow, 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 reach the tournament’s semifinals 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 quarterfinals. 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.
“I was, alongside many other people, anticipating the match against Federer,” Djokovic said.
This night was cooler, as the temperature dipped into the 70s, but the humidity was above 80 percent. With Millman drenched in sweat, he sought permission for a wardrobe change at 2-2 in the second set.
It was odd enough to see a player be allowed to do that during a set, but even odder for it to happen after an even number of games, rather than at an odd-game changeover.
“I was struggling. He was struggling. We were all sweating,” said Djokovic, who will face 2014 US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori on Friday. “Just trying to find a way to hang in there.”
When Millman apologized for leaving the court at that juncture, Djokovic replied: “I’m fine to have a little rest,” before sitting down on his sideline bench and taking off his shirt.
“I didn’t even know the rule,” said Millman, whose request to briefly leave the court was permitted based on something called the “equipment out of adjustment” provision in the International Tennis Federation guidelines, because his sweat was making the playing surface slippery.
Widely considered the best returner in the game, Djokovic kept accumulating chances — and then failing to cash them in. He was able to come through on only 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, to run out on back-toback points. After the first, he double-faulted and ended up getting broken there.
But he broke back in the match’s next-to-last game, then served out the victory to love.
“I think the guy beat a brick wall once,” Millman said.
“He makes you work hard for every point and he’s just relentless.”
I was struggling. He was struggling. Just trying to find a way to hang in there.” Novak Djokovic, after reaching the US Open semis