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2018 US Open, September 8 Men's singles, Semi-finals Arthur Ashe Stadium, Billie Jean King Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York Kei Nishikori vs Novak Djokovic |
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Novak Djokovic will look to progress to his second straight grand slam final when he takes on the resurgent Kei Nishikori in the second semi-final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 8:30am (AEST).
‘The Djoker’ has been on fire throughout the second half of this year. After knocking off Rafael Nadal on the way to securing a Wimbledon title, he has surged back to the top of the sport.
In an absolute blitz, he defeated a very solid John Millman during the quarter-finals in a three-hour straight-set match and should be relatively fresh heading into the semi-finals.
In fact, across the whole tournament, Djokovic has only lost two sets, coming during the first two rounds.
If it’s possible in the oppressive heat New York has served up, Djokovic’s level has gotten better with each match, his last three victories coming over Joao Sousa, Richard Gasquet and Millman.
He avoided a clash with Roger Federer in the quarter-final thanks to Millman, and it could have saved him an hour or two on court.
Interestingly though, questions could still be asked. He went off the boil once or twice in the match and seemed to battle with the heat, which are factors he can’t afford against the consistently rock solid Nishikori.
Maybe Japan’s best ever player, Nishikori struggled through the end of 2017 and the first half of 2018 with injury, which explains his slightly lower ranking of 19.
Yet, he came back strongly to make the quarter-finals at Wimbledon earlier this year and has been solid since, even if not getting the results he’d like to be getting.
Maybe the best he has played all year though came last time out with a wonderful five-set win over Marin Cilic, bouncing back and regaining momentum after dropping the fourth.
It shows he is right in the mix at this US Open, and with his serve working well and the usual weapons firing, he will push Djokovic all the way.
Prediction
Nishikori will fight hard as he always does, and if it’s warm, it could play into his hands a little bit as he tries to make the match physical, but with Djokovic resembling a brick wall, he should be on his way to another final.
Djokovic in four sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this second semi-final at the US Open from around 8:30am (AEST) or at the conclusion of Rafael Nadal versus Juan Martin Del Potro and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: Around 8:30am (AEST)
Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York
TV: Live, ESPN, SBS
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, WatchESPN, SBS online
Betting: Djokovic $1.70, Nishikori $3
Overall record: Played 18, Djokovic 16, Nishikori 2
Last meeting: Wimbledon QF – Djokovic defeat Nishikori 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
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