That’s all for now. Be sure to check out Kevin Mitchell’s full match report and we’ll see you on Saturday for live coverage of the women’s final.
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“It felt great,” Djokovic says in his on-court interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. “I don’t know how it looked but it felt really good. I thought I came out of the block with a great intensity and a great focus. You have to execute the shots against Kei Nishikori, who is one of the quickest movers on the tour and takes away a lot of your time.”
He’s asked about Sunday’s final against Juan Martin del Potro.
“We’ve never met each other in a grand slam final,” Djokovic says. “That’s going to be something new for both of us. I have tremendous respect for him as a person and a player. He struggled a lot with his injuries, but he’s a big-match player, a big-time player and he showed that today against Nadal. I’m sure that’s going to be a thrilling match.”
Novak Djokovic wins 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 over Kei Nishikori!
Third set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 2-6 Djokovic
Djokovic falls behind love-15 on his serve but wins a pair of short points to come within two points of the title. Nishikori gets it to 30-all, but loses the next point to give Djokovic a match point after 2hr 21min. Nishikori saves it but moments later Djokovic earns another and this time he delivers, ripping a dazzling backhand winner to book a place in his 23rd major final and eighth at the US Open!
Djokovic breaks in seventh game of third set!
Third set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 2-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori wins the opening point but three consecutive unforced errors from the backhand side make it 15-40, and give Djokovic a pair of break chances. He crunches a 113mph ace to save the first, but another mishit backhand gives Djokovic the break. The Wimbledon champion will serve for a place in the final after the change of ends!
Third set: *Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 2-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Another stress-free hold for Djokovic, who’s ahead a break and two games away from the finish line.
Third set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 2-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic gets it to 30-all on Nishikori’s serve. Nishikori hits a forehand volley winner for game point, but a misfired backhand on the next point brings it to deuce. Moments later Djokovic has another break point to all but end the match, but a Nishikori backhand winner saves it. Nishikori is able to hold from there but he’s still trailing by a break.
Third set: *Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 1-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic backs up the break with a casual love hold as the match hits the two-hour mark.
Djokovic breaks in third game of third set!
Third set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 1-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori falls behind love-30 and then 15-40 on his serve, giving Djokovic a pair of break points. He needs only one, earning the first break of the third set when Nishikori sends a backhand into the net.
Third set: *Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 1-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A half-chance for Nishikori, who gets it to 30-all on Djokovic’s serve. But he mixes in a pair of unforced errors and Djokovic is clear with the hold. Nishikori is currently 16-for-17 (94%) on net points won, begging the question why he’s not coming in more frequently.
Third set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-6, 1-0 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori is on the board in the third set after breezing through a love hold.
Djokovic wins second set for 6-3, 6-4 lead!
Second set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-6 Djokovic
Djokovic races to 30-love and 40-15, then watches as Nishikori deposits a backhand into the net on set point, putting the Wimbledon champion within one set of Sunday’s US Open final. Djokovic has just been wearing Nishikori down from the opening bell, often forcing him to hit three or four winners to take a point, and it’s started to take its toll.
Second set: Nishikori 3-6, 4-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic gets it to 30-all on Nishikori’s serve, moving within two points of the set. But Nishikori is able to force the Serb into a couple errors and hold from there. Djokovic to serve for a two-sets-to-none lead after the changeover.
Second set: *Nishikori 3-6, 3-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Another elementary hold for Djokovic, who punctuates it with a backhand volley winner. Nishikori will now serve to stay in the second set.
Second set: Nishikori 3-6, 3-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori holds fairly easily but he’ll need to make progress on the Djokovic serve in the next few games if he has any home of avoiding going two sets down.
Second set: *Nishikori 3-6, 2-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Some more deft volleying from Nishikori puts Djokovic behind love-15, but the Serb wins four quick points from there to hold and consolidate the break.
Djokovic breaks in fifth game of second set!
Second set: Nishikori 3-6, 2-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
More pressure for Nishikori, who falls behind love-30 on his serve. Then another blistering return by Djokovic leads to another quick point and three chances at a break for Djokovic. Nishikori saves the first two with a pair of winners, then the third when Djokovic can’t return a volley into the court. But moments later Djokovic has a fourth break opportunity and this time he converts it when Nishikori dumps a forehand into the net.
Second set: *Nishikori 3-6, 2-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic breezes through another service game, capping it with a crisp inside-out forehand winner from just inside the baseline.
Second set: Nishikori 3-6, 2-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori holds easily, hitting winners on every point that he won and coming to net a bit more frequently, which is probably smart given the unlikelihood of winning a baseline slugfest the way Djokovic is hitting the ball.
Second set: *Nishikori 3-6, 1-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A glimmer of hope for Nishikori after Djokovic double-faults for 30-all. He’s able to get it to deuce and then Djokovic mixes in another double fault, giving Nishikori his first break-point chance of the night as the match hits the hour mark. Djokovic saves it when Nishikori makes an unforced error with the backhand, but he hits an overhand smash winner on the next point for a second break opportunity. But Djokovic saved that too, then seems to dial up the serve to win the next two points and hold.
Second set: Nishikori 3-6, 1-0 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic showing he’s just too good on the opening point of the second set, firing back at least three sure winners and getting the best in an 18-shot rally. Nishikori is walking slow after that one. Another grueling rally on the next point and Djokovic wins it again, putting Nishikori down love-30. Nishikori is not going to win this match from the baseline the way Djokovic is striking the ball and getting to everything sent his way. Some clever shotmaking by Nishikori gets it to 30-all, but Djokovic rips a backhand winner for a break point. Nishikori does well to save it with a backhand winner, but moments later Djokovic has another break chance. Nishikori saves that too, then a third, and then a fourth! Finally, Nishikori is able to hold when Djokovic accommodates with a pair of unforced errors off the backhand side, winning the first game of the second set after more than 13 minutes. Djokovic is just 1-for-9 on break points tonight after starting 1-for-10 against Millman.
Djokovic wins first set, 6-3!
First set: Nishikori 3-6 Djokovic
That was quick. Djokovic breezes to a love hold, capping it with a 110mph ace, and he’s taken the opening set.
First set: Nishikori 3-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori falls behind love-30 on his serve and suddenly Djokovic is two points from the set. Nishikori is able to get it to deuce, but he appears to injure his knee coming to net when his foot gets stuck on the line. It looks worse than it is, it seems, as he’s moving around fine almost immediately after. Nishikori holds and Djokovic will try to serve out the set. Oh, and Chevy Chase is at courside in a Bushwood Country Club hat. How ‘bout a Fresca?
Chevy Chase on Ashe for Djokovic-Nishikori wearing a Bushwood Country Club hat. pic.twitter.com/CZ2uHzq7yH
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) September 7, 2018
First set: *Nishikori 2-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic seeing the ball very cleanly, playing with confidence and no apprehension. He holds at love in barely a minute and Nishikori will serve to stay in the first set after the change of ends.
First set: Nishikori 2-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori is on his way to an easy hold at 40-15, but Djokovic hits a devastating backhand that Nishikori can’t handle, then Nishikori nets a forehand from the baseline for deuce. Tricky juncturee for Nishikori, but he’s able to hold moments later he holds when Djokovic sends a backland past the baseline. A faint rainfall has just started on Ashe, which could prompt the closing of the roof if it gets any worst.
First set: *Nishikori 1-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic falls behind love-15 but wins four quick points to hold. He’s only hit one winner compared to four unforced errors but appears in control early on.
First set: Nishikori 1-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori is on the board after an easy hold. He became the first of either player to come to net in tonight’s match, showing off his underrated hands in finishing a volley winner.
First set: *Nishikori 0-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic falls behind love-15, then Nishikori deftly hits a drop-shot winner off the backhand side for 15-30. But Djokovic rattles off three quick points to hold and consolidate the break.
Djokovic breaks in second game of first set!
First set: Nishikori 0-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
An early pressure point for Nishikori as he falls behind love-30 in his first service game. He then sends a forehand from the baseline flying and Djokovic will have three looks at a break point. Nishikori saves the first with a 107mph service winner, then the second and the third when he outlasts Djokovic in a pair of extended rallies. Deuce. Djokovic earns a fourth look at a break when Nishikori misses on a forehand, but he saves that one too with a backhand winner. Then Nishikori nets a backhand on the run to give Djokovic a fifth break point and this time he converts it! After all the trouble Djokovic had converting break points on Wednesday against John Millman, surely he can take heart in striking early tonight. Big hitting and grueling rallies are the word in this one.
Updated
First set: *Nishikori 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic won the toss and has elected to serve. He rattles off three quick, compact points before mixing in an unofrced error off the forehand. Moments later he wins a short point and has held to open the match. The cool conditions, uncharacteristic for this sweltering tournament, are surely a benefit to Djokovic, who suffered badly in the heat when they met in the 2014 semis here.
The players are on court going through their warm-ups and we should be under way shortly. At stake is a place in Sunday’s final against Juan Martin del Potro, who reached the title match when Rafael Nadal was forced to retire after two sets.
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for today’s second US Open men’s semi-final between Kei Nishikori and Novak Djokovic. Djokovic enjoys a 14-2 record in the head-to-head series between the players, though one of those defeats was a four-set shocker in the US Open semi-finals back in 2014. Since then, Djokovic has won 13 straight meetings including four previous times this year with the Serb winning in Madrid, Rome and the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The sixth-seeded Djokovic is in form, having won 10 straight sets at Fluhsing Meadows since dropping a third-set tiebreaker to Tennys Sandgren in the second round. Meanwhile, Nishikori, the No 21 seed, is coming off a marathon victory over Marin Cilic, a rematch of the 2014 US Open final, which required more than four hours on court. He’s trying to become second-lowest seed to reach the US Open final after No 28 Kevin Anderson last year – and out to become the first Japanese man to win a Grand Slam title.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Scott Murray’s game-by-game from Friday’s first semi-final.
