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Djokovic sweats into US Open semis

After struggling against Millman and humidity, he will meet Nishikori who exacts revenge on Cilic

Novak Djokovic sweated it out from behind the baseline to beat Australian John Millman 6-3, 6-4 , 6-4 at the US Open yesterday morning (Singapore time) and set up a semi-final with Japan's Kei Nishikori.

Djokovic, a two-time 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.

When Kei is on, he's a top-five, top-10 player. He has a great two-handed backhand, great footwork and is one of the quickest players on tour.

- Novak Djokovic on his semi-final opponent Kei Nishikori

The US 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 players. You're dripping. But that's no excuse. 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 said.

"Changing a lot of t-shirts, shorts and just trying to hang in there and find a way to win. Not easy conditions to play in, but it's the same for both players."

Djokovic broke early to take a 3-1 lead 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 2hr 48 min.

In the other quarter-final, Nishikori advanced with a grinding 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(7/5), 4-6, 6-4 win over Marin Cilic in 4hr 8min, gaining a small measure of revenge on the man who crushed his Grand Slam dream in the 2014 final.

"I don't know why, but it's always a battle with Marin," said Nishikori, who stretched his career record over the seventh-seeded Croat to 9-6.

"I try to fight every point. Especially in the end, I really focused on every point, but I wish I don't go to five sets every time."

And on meeting the man who stands in his way to another US Open final, Nishikori said: "Yeah, always excited to play Novak because it's great challenge for me," said Nishikori.

"Always exciting to play him. Especially after coming from injury, I'm enjoying this challenge." - AFP, REUTERS

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