US Open: Novak Djokovic: “The toughest tournament of the last ten years”

Novak Djokovic has reached the semi-finals of the US Open for the eleventh time in a row. After having to pass due to injury in 2017, he is in the last four after beating John Millman.

In one and a half decades Novak Djokovic has already experienced a lot in the bone mill of the tennis business, often the tour across the time zones and across the continents is also an ordeal. But the US Open 2018 will probably remain in the eternal memory of the smooth Serbian, the 13-time Grand Slam Champion.

Perhaps one day for the final crowned comeback of the season, for another major title after the already won Wimbledon Cup. But certainly for what happened at this traditionally last Grand Slam highlight of the year, with heat waves that forced all players into a tennis border experience and to their absolute physical limits: “This is the toughest tournament of the last ten years,” said the 31-year-old after his 6:3, 6:4, 6:4 victory over Australian John Millman in the sweatbox of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

As in the last few days, Djokovic and Millmann suffered from extremely humid heat in the evening performance of the tenth day of the competition, it was as if the game was being played in the Amazon jungle. At the 2-2 draw in the second set, the 24,000 spectators even experienced a novelty in Grand Slam history when Millman asked for a break in the game – the Australian slipped through his own sweat on the Centre Court floor and wanted to put on a fresh twist in the dressing room.

Djokovic war´s only right, also he suffered badly in the conditions, gasped and groaned between the rallies. And so the Serb took a seat on the bench with his upper body bare while Millman changed his knot. “I’m sweating more here than ever before in my entire career,” Djokovic said later.

He had therefore provided with large luggage, with ten tennis shirts and a whole load of shoes. “But it’s not a nice feeling to have to play tennis like this,” said Djokovic, “it’s an insane strain.” Meanwhile, Djokovic and Co. are virtually suffering from the curse of good deeds – because since the installation of the “umbrella”, the mobile roof over the world’s largest tennis arena, the professionals have been complaining about the lack of air circulation.

“You feel like you’re in an oven,” said Matador Rafael Nadal, who spilled sweat for almost five hours on Tuesday night before beating up Austria’s ace Dominic Thiem. Djokovic joined in the complaint, but also asked the tournament managers to think about timely solutions to the problem: “Maybe you can use larger fans. Or some kind of air conditioning,” he said, “it’s hard when you keep thinking about getting enough air. Or you crave to get rid of the sweat every second.”

However, Djokovic’s sensational US Open Series continues with this extraordinary tournament edition in the open-air sauna. With the victory over Millman, the proud Federer-conqueror, the reinvigorated Djoker advanced to the semi-finals of the American Major for the eleventh time in a row, he thus lies in second place in the eternal leaderboard behind Jimmy Connors (14).

More can come for him, the third title after 2011 and 2015, first against Japan’s Crack Kei Nishikori in the semi-final, then against Nadal or Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in the final. “Now I want to finish this crazy journey,” said Djokovic.