US Open: Novak Djokovic beats John Millman in sweaty quarter-final then fumes he needs to change shirts TEN times due to conditions
Serbian saw off John Millman 6-3 6-4 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in extreme humidity at Flushing Meadows
NOVAK DJOKOVIC was made to sweat - but made it through.
The heat was on once again here in the quarter-finals and although the temperatures weren’t as brutal as previous nights, both Djokovic and Aussie battler John Millman were dripping wet out on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In the second set Millman, who brilliantly beat Roger Federer in the previous round, had to ask the umpire permission to leave the court because he was worried about the sweat making the ground too dangerous.
There was no way, however, that the 13-time Slam winning Serbian was about to slip up.
Djokovic eventually ran out a deserved 6-3 6-4 6-4 winner and will now play Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Friday for a place in the final.
He missed last year’s tournament through injury but this will be his 11th straight Flushing Meadows semi-final.
Djokovic said: “I was really tested. Credit to John, he put up a great battle. He’s had an amazing tournament and to come out and fight for three hours he deserves a round of applause.
“We were both struggling and trying to hang in there. There was a lot of sweating but you just need to survive. They weren’t easy conditions but it’s the same for both players.
“He apologised for going to change in the second set but I said ‘it’s OK, I need the rest.’
“John is never going to hand you the win."
MOST READ IN SPORT
Djokovic then took a swipe at US Open bosses.
He snapped: "This is the sweatiest tournament I have ever been at. I have never sweated as much as I have here. It’s incredible. I need ten shirts for a match. The tournament needs to address it - the stadium feels like a sauna.
“Yes the roof keeps the rain off but with so many players retiring and struggling to breathe, there is no circulation so they need to think about it.”
Sweaty shirts aside, the key moment of a cracking clash came at the end of the second set. Djokovic had missed ten break chances on the spin and was struggling to break down the Millman serve.
The Aussie then double faulted. It was just the bit of luck Djoko needed and from then on, the former world No1 was always in the box seat.
It was a sad end for the world No55 who almost quit tennis for an office job five years ago following a series of injury setbacks.
The likeable 29-year-old said: “I’ve retired in my head a few times and it’s moments like tonight - walking out at Arthur Ashe Stadium against these type of players - which makes it all worthwhile.
“I can build off this.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Murray’s dream of bagging both the men’s and mixed doubles titles is over after he and Brazilian Bruno Soares lost in straight sets.
But Murray made amends for his defeat earlier in the day by storming into the final of the mixed doubles with American Bethany Mattek-Sands.
They beat Americans Christina McHale and Christian Harrison in a third set tie-break and the Scot is just one win from landing his sixth Slam title.
Mattek-Sands, who has recovered from a horror knee injury sustained at Wimbledon in 2017, said: “Jamie kept me calm, cool and collected.
“I tend to get a little bit hyper and energetic. He’s the yin to my yang. He came up with some awesome volleys, so we’re pumped to get that win.”
Japanese star Naomi Osaka is through to the women’s last four - making it a stellar day for tennis in Asia following Nishikori’s fine performance in his gutsy five-set win over Marin Cilic.
Serena Williams, who beat Karolina Pliskova, faces Anastasija Sevastova today in her semi-final and is just two wins away from winning her 24th Grand Slam and levelling Margaret Court’s all-time record.