Sports Announcer Andy Taylor | The Voice of the US Open | US Open
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[6] Novak Djokovic -06- (SRB) def [21] Kei Nishikori -19- (JPN) | 63 64 62
Since capturing his 8th Grand Slam title at the 2015 Australian Open, 2-time US Open Champion Novak Djokovic (2011 | 2015) is now 9-0 in Major Semifinals. His last Slam Semifinal loss happened on this court in 2014, where tonight’s opponent Kei Nishikori stunned fans in Ashe to reach his first career Major Final.
Nishikori fell to Marin Cilic in 2014’s championship match. Poetically, he ousted Cilic on Wednesday to reach tonight’s Semifinal — but needed 5-sets to do it. Meanwhile, after a pair of intensely humid 4-setters in the first two rounds, Djokovic efficiently disassembled his opponents in straight sets. He did the same tonight to Kei Nishikori.
Aggressive from ball-up, Kei delivered some artistic volleys, earning an impressive 17-of-22 points at the net. In fact, Nishikori earned more winners than Djokovic, with 22 to Novak’s 17. But like all of Novak’s opponents this fortnight, Kei couldn’t overcome Novak’s masterful returns.
Djokovic gave himself an insurmountable 17 break opportunities, converting four. Novak’s serve was on-point, as well. Kei only earned 2 break chances, and couldn’t capitalize on either. Enough said. Game, set, match.
Novak now owns a 15-2 record over Nishikori. 4-1 at the Majors.
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa location-arrow”] 2018 SF US Open: Djokovic over Nishikori in 3
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa location-arrow”] 2018 QF Wimbledon: Djokovic over Nishikori in 4
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa location-arrow”] 2016 QF Australian Open: Djokovic over Nishikori in 3
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa location-arrow”] 2014 SF US Open: Nishikori over Djokovic in 4
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa location-arrow”] 2010 R2 Roland Garros: Djokovic over Nishikori in 3
Novak Djokovic. A dominant force in Flushing
Finally, here’s a remarkable fact that hasn’t received much attention: At the US Open, Novak Djokovic has reached the Semifinals in 11 consecutive appearances. He missed last year with the elbow injury. But check out his US Open record prior to last year’s absence! Extraordinary…especially considering he made his US Open debut in 2005.
2016 – Final | Fell to Stan Wawrinka in 4
2015 – Champion | Defeated Roger Federer in 4
2014 – Semifinal | Fell to Kei Nishikori in 4
2013 – Final | Fell to Rafael Nadal in 4
2012 – Final | Fell to Andy Murray in 5
2011 – Champion | Defeated Rafael Nadal in 4
2010 – Final | Fell to Rafael Nadal in 4
2009 – Semifinal | Fell to Roger Federer in 3
2008 – Semifinal | Fell to Roger Federer in 4
2007 – Final | Fell to Roger Federer in 3
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa location-arrow”] NEXT: [6] Novak Djokovic -06- (SRB) vs [3] Juan Martin Del Potro -03- (ARG)
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[6] Novak Djokovic -06- (SRB)
Remarkably, since 2007, he has reached the US Open Semifinals in 11 consecutive appearances. he’s a 7-time finalist, and 2-time us open champion. Last month, he won his 13th career Grand Slam Singles title and 4th Wimbledon crown. In 2016, he became only the 3rd man in history to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. This Summer, he made history again, becoming the first player ever to complete the career Golden Masters, capturing his first Cincinnati title with a straight-sets victory over 7-time Champion Roger Federer. He’s a Davis Cup Champion, has won the ATP World Tour Finals 5-times, owns 70 career Singles titles, and has held the World #1 ranking for a combined 223-weeks. From Serbia – Please welcome 2011 and 2015 US Open Champion…Novak Djokovic.
2018 US Open Road to the Final:
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] SF: def [21] Kei Nishikori -19- (JPN) 63 64 62 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] QF: def John Millman -55- (AUS) 63 64 64 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R4: def João Sousa -68- (POR) 63 64 63 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R3: def [26] Richard Gasquet -25- (FRA) 62 63 63 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R2: def Tennys Sandgren -61- (USA) 61 63 67(2) 62 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R1: def Marton Fucsovics -41- (HUN) 63 36 64 60 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
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[21] Kei Nishikori -19- (JPN)
4-years-ago, he earned his second career-win over a World #1 to reach his first Grand Slam Final right here at the US Open. Ranked as high as the #4 Player in the World, he owns 11 ATP World Tour Singles titles; and earlier this year in Monte Carlo, reached his 23rd career Singles Final – his 4th championship match at a Masters-1000 event. Two-years-ago in Rio, he captured Olympic Bronze, defeating Rafael Nadal to earn Japan’s first Olympic tennis medal in 96 years. Competing in his 3rd Grand Slam Semifinal – From Japan, please welcome 2014 US Open Finalist…Kei Nishikori.
2018 US Open Road to the Semifinals:
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] QF: def [7] Marin Cilic -07- (CRO) 26 64 76(5) 46 64 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R4: def Philipp Kohlschreiber -24- (GER) 63 62 75 | Louis Armstrong Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R3: def [13] Diego Schwartzman -13- (ARG) 64 64 57 61 | Grandstand
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R2: def Gael Monfils -39- (FRA) 65 54 RET | Louis Armstrong Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R1: def Maximilian Marterer -50- (GER) 62 62 63 | Court 17
