Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic wrestles Kei Nishikori

Novak Djokovic has reached the semi-finals in Wimbledon. The Serb defeated Japan’s Kei Nishikori in four sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and 6-2 in the quarter-finals, the first time Djokovic has reached the last four in a Grand Slam since the 2016 US Open.

“It feels great to be back in the last four in a Grand Slam,” said a happy Djokovic after the game, who head-to-headed Nishikori 14-2. “I have built on my achievements over the past few months. It feels like I’ve reached my zenith at the right time.”

Djokovic got off to a better start by setting the first break in the fourth game. Nishikori fought back immediately and quickly set 3-3, but soon after he had to serve again for 3-5, the first stage was over.

At the beginning of the second set, however, frustration spread to Djokovic. In the first two service games of Nishikori he could not use any of his four break chances. The twelve-time major winner threw his racket onto the lawn of the Center Court, for which he promptly received a warning from chair referee Carlos Ramos.

At the following change of sides the Djoker let his anger about it run free. “I get a warning that I’m destroying the place?” Djokovic asked. “You think I destroyed the place by dropping my bat? Oh, come on.”

The discussion with the referee had an effect: shortly afterwards Djokovic lost his serve for 1:3 and Nishikori took the second set without another break chance.

“I think it was unnecessary,” said Djokovic when asked about the situation. “He also threw his bat in the fourth set. That’s not fair. But it just happens out of emotion.”

In the middle of the third set it finally came to the preliminary decision. After Nishikori blocked a break chance at 1:2 from his point of view, he got a game later at 0:40 three possibilities to take the service off his opponent. Djokovic, however, unpacked his strongest serves and set it 3-2.

During this phase, he repeatedly fired himself up and stepped up a gear. He broke Nishikori, who seemed slightly weakened by an elbow injury, twice, won the next three games and also the third round. All in all, he won 39 games throughout the match, making only 21 unforced mistakes.

Djokovic then left the first game of the fourth set to himself, but he brought himself decisively into the lead with breaks to 1:1 and 3:1. At 4:2, 30 both ref Ramos spoke a Time Violation, but not even that could upset the triple Wimbledon winner.

After two hours and 38 minutes, Djokovic was the first semi-finalist in the men’s singles. Now he is waiting for the winner of the second game on the Center Court on Wednesday between Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafael Nadal.