By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, September 4, 2021
Novak Djokovic maintained his master of Kei Nishikori 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the US Open fourth round for the 14th consecutive appearance.
Photo credit: Kathryn Riley/USTA/US Open
Face-to-face with Kei Nishikori near net, a sprawling Novak Djokovic poked a full-stretch volley pass then broke into a grin as he climbed up of the court.
Launching Labor Day weekend with a tricky test, Djokovic brought both grit and joy to his work continuing his quest for tennis immortality.
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The top seeded maintained his mastery of Nishikori with an entertaining 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory advancing to the US Open fourth round for the 14th time.
It was Djokovic’s 24th consecutive major match win as he now stands four wins from realizing tennis immortality—winning his fourth US Open crown, completing the calendar Grand Slam and collecting a men’s record 21st major championship.
After a slow start that saw Nishikori beat him to the punch, Djokovic grew progressively sharper improving his 2021 record to 41-5 with his 975th career win.
“I don’t think I started off very well; I was quite passive, I was too far back in the court, he was dictating play,” Djokovic told ESPN’s Darren Cahill in his on-court interview afterward. “I was still trying to find the rhythm, find the tempo. Obviously, he played much quicker and more aggressive than my opponents in the opening rounds did.
“So it took me a little bit of time to adjust to his game. I think beginning of the second set I already felt like I’m getting the groove back I’m getting that rhythm back. I was very pleased with the focus. Maybe at some points I wasn’t at my best, but overall I was determined I was concentrated and that’s what matters in the end.”
Winning majors is more than forehands and backhands it demands desire and determination and Djokovic exuded the effort in these exchanges.
It was Djokovic’s 17th straight win over Nishikori—he hasn’t lost to the Japanese since the 2014 US Open semifinals—and his 18th straight Grand Slam third round.
While Djokovic committed 52 unforced errors and didn’t play a completely clean match, he was strong in three key areas. Djokovic served with purpose hitting 15 aces and saving 11 of 13 break points, he attacked with confidence on key points winning 22 of 27 points, including that superb net exchange in the final game, and engaged the crowd, which got behind the world No. 1 after the opening set.
“Appreciate your contributions to this match; it was a really an amazing match to be part of, big experience,” Djokovic told the crowd. “Big credit to Kei—he played on a very, very high level today. Tough luck for him but he deserves a round of applause.
“I always knew he possesses a lot of qualities. I must say he did surprise me with his level today. He was playing very quick, he was tough. Even though I won 3, 3 and 2 second third and fourth sets I felt all the sets were quite close. So huge congratulations to the great fight for him.”
Djokovic fans should be pleased that he summoned the intensity when it mattered most and showed the depth of his game deploying the drop shot, volleying effectively and serving with ambition.
Next up for Djokovic is either Aslan Karatsev, whom the Serbian swept in the Australian Open semifinals but lost to on the red clay of his hometown tournament in Belgrade, or 20-year-old rising American Jenson Brooksby.
Nishikori saved two break points in his opening service game. The Japanese won eight of 10 points earning the first break and confirming it for 3-1.
Though Djokovic was spraying shots early, he worked his way back into the set breaking to even after eight games.
Level in the tiebreaker, Djokovic blinked.
The top seed attacked and had an open court ahead but pushed his volley right back at Nishikori, who held his ground and lofted rainbow lob winner for 5-4. Djokovic netted a backhand down the line to hand the Japanese three set points. Nishikori needed just one sliding a serve wide for a one-set lead after 64 minutes.
It was the first time Nishikori won a tiebreaker vs. Djokovic since his 2014 US Open semifinal upset.
"I knew it's not gonna be easy after winning first set. He's very, very tough till the end," Nishikori said. "The way he plays is not an easy match for me that he plays to all the balls.
"He was serving good towards the end. Yeah, I felt pretty same intensity, good intensity from him. Maybe he's feeling that inside a lot of pressure, but I don't know. I couldn't see during the match."
Cumulative crosscourt pressure provoked the first break of set two in the third game. Djokovic scraped out a tricky drop volley, waited for Nishikori to commit and spun a backhand pass unleashing celebratory roar matched by wife Jelena in the box.
Djokovic dumped a double fault to face double break point. The Serbian saved both, but Nishikori kept pushing to earn a fifth break point. Djokovic drilled a 117 mph second serve into the body then won the ensuing rally. In a spirited stand, Djokovic denied all five break points extending his lead to 3-1.
This match showcased two of the best two-handers in the game. Djokovic leaned on his landing the line and drawing errors to break again and take the second set after one hour, 55 minutes.
Despite earning seven break points in the set, Nishikori couldn’t crack the Serbian’s serve. Djokovic mixed consistent baseline play with timely trips forward going eight-for-eight at net in the set.
Chasing a forehand, Djokovic lost his footing and took a hard tumble to court early in the third set but shook it off. Moving forward again behind a slice backhand, Djokovic provoked the error breaking again for 3-1.
Tested to a break point in the seventh game, Djokovic saved a break point but decelerated in his sixth double fault to face another break point. This time, Djokovic scattered a forehand wide squandering a 40-love lead to give back the back at 3-4.
Refocusing, Djokovic broke right back then closed the third set with a primal scream to his box taking complete control after two hours, 50 minutes.
The good news for Nishikori was the fact he took a set off the world No. 1 for the first time since the second set of the 2018 Wimbledon. The bad news was Djokovic was getting stronger and stronger while Nishikori looked to be physically fading.
The best returner in the sport showed his stinging serve slashing successive aces stretching his lead to 4-2.
As this match progressed, Djokovic did a good job probing Nishikori’s backhand with variety, mixing sharp-angled crosscourt backhands, with some higher topspin and some low slice at times. That unsettling variety caused a backhand error as Djokovic broke for 5-2 with a clenched fist toward the crowd. Djokovic closed in three hours, 32 minutes keeping his hunt for history alive.