US Open 2021: Novak Djokovic beats Kei Nishikori in four sets
Novak Djokovic is still four victories missing to win the calendar grand slams. The number one in the world won in the third round of the US Open 2021 against Kei Nishikori 6: 7 (4), 6: 3, 6: 3 and 6: 2.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 04, 2021, 11:29 pm
Novak Djokovic already shook a little when he met Kei Nishikori at Arthur Ashe Stadium. But it's a long way from wobbling to stumbling. Especially in the best-of-five format. And so the second set loss of the number one in the current tournament remained without consequences, Djokovic won 6: 7 (4), 6: 3, 6: 3 and 6: 2. At the beginning, the young Dane Holger Runde had annoyed Djokovic briefly.
But he has continued to focus on the very big goal: winning all four Grand Slam tournaments within one calendar year. The next opponent on the way to the sports history books will be either Jenson Brooksby or Aslan Karatsev.
Djokovic with 17 straight wins against Nishikori
Nishikori, on the other hand, sold significantly better than at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The local hero only won two games. This time Nishikori played almost at eye level. But only almost. Symptomatic of this is the course of the game in the third set. Nishikori managed the rebreak to 3: 4, but Djokovic hit back immediately. In the fourth set, the 20-time Grand Slam champion left nothing to burn. Although the last game was again fiercely contested.
With the success Djokovic put on the balance sheet against Nishikori to 18: 2. The Serbian has won the last 17 matches, with Nishikori's last win at the 2014 US Open.
Here the single tableau in New York
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