Djokovic Into Eighth U.S. Open Semifinal With Marathon Win Over Murray
Under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was world number one Novak Djokovic moving into his eighth straight U.S. Open semifinals appearance at the U.S. Open early Thursday morning, defeating Andy Murray, 7-6(1), 6-7(1) 6-2, 6-4. With the win, Djokovic moved to 13-8 lifetime against Murray in the pair’s 21st career meeting, a match lasting three hours and 32 minutes. Only Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and Roger Federer have made as many U.S. Open semifinals appearances.
“When I get to play Andy, at the Grand Slams especially, we both try to peak with our performances obviously, I know that the matches are going to go the distance,” said Djokovic, who was appearing in his 22nd consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal. “We're going to have a lot of long rallies and a lot of exchanges. It's going to be physical, but also mental. I get the feeling that if I get to stay with him and kind of work, not get too loose and too frustrated with points and not allow him to get into a big lead, I feel like there is a point where I feel I have that edge, maybe physically. That's where I try to always focus on and it paid off tonight.”
Murray, who struggled with cramps in his first-round victory last week over Robin Haase, began experiencing discomfort midway through the final set. He called for the trainer for a heating pad for his back, which was surgically repaired after last year’s Open, and was bothered by the issue the remainder of match.
“I got stiff in my hips and my back towards the end of the third set,” said Murray in his post-match press conference. “I don't know exactly why. I mean, it was certainly cool, but I'm certainly not injured. I didn't hurt anything. It was just fatigue I think, and I stiffened up towards the end of the third set.”
Murray is now 0-9 against Djokovic after losing the first set, as Djokovic would finish with 46 winners to 48 unforced errors.
“It is always a battle … it's never finished even if you are break or double break up against Andy because he's such a good returner and steps in,” said Djokovic. “Sometimes he just goes for every shot that he has. So that is a high-risk game, but it can pay off.”
Up next for Djokovic is Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the number 10 seed, a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 upset winner Wednesday afternoon over the third-seeded Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic and Nishikori have met only twice in their careers, each with one win. The two were scheduled to play back in March in the semifinals of the 2014 Sony Tennis Open in Miami, but a groin injury forced Nishikori to withdraw from the event. Prior to that, the two met in 2011 in the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, a win by Nishikori.
Nishikori becomes the first Japanese male to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Open in nearly 100 years.
“I am very honored to make the history,” said Nishikori. “I always love to play here because I feel a little bit like home. It's very close to where I live. Also a lot of Asian and Japanese fans come up. Always fun to play here. I always enjoy.”
Djokovic noted, “I haven't played Kei in a while. He's a very, very good player, obviously. I think he's playing the best tennis of his life in the last 12 months. He started working with Michael Chang and he changed a few things in his game. He serves very efficiently. He's maybe one of the fastest players on the tour … great backhand, great forehand, all-around player I’m expecting a tough one.”
