NEW YORK, KOMPAS.com - Novak Djokovic menjadi penantang petenis Jepang, Kei Nishikori , di semifinal US Open 2018.
Djokovic memastikan tempat di semifinal setelah membungkam petenis Australia, John Millman, dengan skor 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, pada perempat final, Kamis (6/9/2018).
Berlaga di Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, Amerika Serikat, petenis Serbia ini dipaksa berduel sengit melawan Millman.
Djokovic baru berhasil mengamankan match point pertama setelah bermain selama dua jam lebih 49 menit atau beberapa saat sebelum pertengahan malam, Rabu (5/9/2018), waktu Amerika Serikat.
"Anda bertahan di lapangan kemudian meraih kemenangan. Sangat menguji. Namun, Millman adalah tipe pemain yang membuat Anda kehilangan bola, membuat Anda menang dengan poin, menciptakan poin," kata Djokovic dilansir AFP.
Baca juga: Kei Nishikori Menang, Jepang Punya 2 Wakil di Semifinal US Open 2018
"Dia tidak banyak melakukan kesalahan, jadi dia hanya berlari ke kiri, ke kanan, mendapatkan banyak bola. Secara taktik, Anda harus memiliki keseimbangan antara bersabar tapi tetap mencari poin, tapi di saat yang sama juga harus agresif dan mengambil peluang saat ada bola pendek," imbuh mantan petenis nomor satu dunia itu.
Djokovic datang ke US Open 2018 sebagai unggulan keenam setelah sempat absen di turnamen ini tahun lalu karena menderita cedera siku.
Sebelum dirundung cedera, petenis 31 tahun ini minimal selalu mencapai semifinal US Open sejak 2007. Dia juga tercatat dua kali meraih trofi US Open.
Baca juga: Serena ke Semifinal US Open untuk Kesembilan Kalinya
Di semifinal, Jumat (7/9/2018), petenis berjuluk The Djoker itu akan berhadapan dengan Kei Nishikori yang lebih dulu melaju setelah mengalahkan Marin Cilic.
Jika berhasil mengalahkan Nishikori dan memenangi laga final, Djokovic akan meraih gelar Grand Slam ke-14 untuk menyamai rekor Pete Sampras.
John Millman beaten by Novak Djokovic as Aussie underdog's US Open campaign ends
Updated
John Millman's US Open odyssey is over following an energy-sapping quarter-final loss to Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic downed Millman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a drama-charged war of attrition to end the unseeded Australian's gallant run and reach his 11th semi-final in New York.
With Millman making headlines in Australia for his stirring fourth-round triumph over Roger Federer, even Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch were on hand on Wednesday night to see what all the fuss was about.
The media moguls were not disappointed, passionately cheering Millman on from their front-row seats as the Australian battler dragged Djokovic out of his comfort zone with some incredible retrieving on another steamy night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Just like Federer two nights earlier against Millman, Djokovic looked in distress as Millman toiled valiantly to turn the match into a physical endurance test.
But the 13-times major winner's class ultimately told, gaining a decisive break in each set to advance to a last-four meeting on Friday with rejuvenated 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori.
Millman's win over Federer will elevate the 29-year-old to 37th in the world next week, leaving him well placed over the next two months to secure a top-32 seeding for the Australian Open.
"You've always got to raise that bar, and I've had a taste of it and I'd love to have a bit more of a feed," Millman said.
"I definitely think I can build off this and hopefully finish off the year really well and then look forward to the most exciting time for an Australian tennis player in the Australian Open.
"I'd love to be seeded at one of these tournaments. That's the next milestone. I can match it with these guys, so you build a bit of confidence.
"Then a really decent preseason could give me a great chance at the Australian Open to play some good ball."
Despite the straight-sets scoreline, Djokovic admitted he needed to dig deep to keep Millman at bay and eventually prevail after two hours and 49 minutes.
"I was struggling, he was struggling, we were all sweating," Djokovic said.
"I was just trying to hang in there and try to find a way to win the match. But definitely it was not easy conditions to play in.
"Full credit for John for putting up a great battle. He's truly a great fighter."
Millman shows no fear against Djokovic
Millman indeed took the fight to the reigning Wimbledon champion in a showdown featuring the last two players to topple Federer this season.
Just as he did against Federer, Millman dropped the opening service game of the match to fall behind 3-0.
And as against Federer, that was enough to lose the first set after Djokovic benefited from a lucky net cord and then fought off a break point in the final game to serve the set out.
The two combatants received a standing ovation after one spectacular rally in the opening game of the second set, with even Sir Rupert rising from his seat.
The lung-busting rallies were appearing to take their toll on Djokovic.
Upon missing a gimme volley — after Millman retrieved a lob with some incredible scrambling — and then pushing a return wide, Djokovic staggered back into position before tipping water over his head at the changeover.
There was more drama three games later as Millman left the court "to change his attire due to the humid conditions".
The USTA later released a statement, saying he was allowed because the excessive sweat on the court could have proved hazardous.
After saving 11 of 12 break points, Millman wasn't able to fend off a 13th as Djokovic delivered a hammer blow to snatch the second set and leave Millman facing tennis's version of mission impossible.
Djokovic had won all 183 of his grand slam matches in which he'd enjoyed a two-sets-to-love lead.
But there was one final twist; the former world number one dropped serve for the only time after receiving successive shot-clock violations and then dragged a forehand wide to allow Millman to level up the third set.
But, not to be denied, Djokovic broke straight back to take the match to enhance his perfect semi-final record in New York to 11 from 11.
AAP
Topics: tennis, sport, united-states
First posted
Novak Djokovic avoided suffering the same fate as Roger Federer as he overcame the never-say-die John Millman to reach the semi-finals.
Two nights after Millman's tenacity and quality ball-striking caused Federer to wilt in the New York humidity, Djokovic battled to a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory.
Although the scoreline looks straightforward, the match lasted two hours and 49 minutes, with the first set taking an hour and the second 59 minutes.
Djokovic, who next faces Kei Nishikori in a rematch of the 2014 semi-final, which he lost, said: "I was very tested. Almost three hours, it's midnight now. Credit to John for putting up a great battle, he's truly a great fighter. He's had an amazing tournament.
"First quarter-finals, he won against Roger. To come out after that kind of win and fight for three hours, he deserves a round of applause definitely.
"I was struggling, he was struggling, we were all sweating, changing clothes. Just trying to hang in there, find a way to win a match. It happened a couple of times that you survive on the court then thrive with a win."
Federer crashed out of the US Open after being beaten by the Australian underdog over four sets.
The Swiss star struggled to breathe in the hot and humid Arthur Ashe Stadium, caused by the lack of ventilation while the roof was shut.
And Djokovic could not believe how much the world No 2 was sweating during the loss - and he was even more shocked Federer was dumped out of the competition.
Djokovic beat Millman in the quarter-finals this morning to set up a last-four showdown with Kei Nishikori.
