By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Novak Djokovic held off an in-form Feliciano Lopez to reach his ninth straight US Open semifinal.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
On a hot and muggy evening in New York, Novak Djokovic passed yet another necessary test on his way to his ninth straight US Open semifinal.
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Djokovic found himself battling well past midnight against No. 18 seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain in their quarterfinal encounter. That was even after Djokovic enjoyed a near perfect first set.
With Lopez, competing in his first ever US Open quarterfinal, unable to get his patented serve and volley game going, Djokovic quickly earned several breaks in the first set. In just 25 minutes, Djokovic pocketed the set 6-1.
Things changed though early in the second set. A well-executed chip and charge foray into the net from Lopez soon drew a error from Djokovic. That created a break point for Lopez who converted on it when Djokovic sent a lob well long. Lopez, now finding the range on his lefty serve, fired down an ace for 3-0.
Suddenly, Djokovic found himself with a match on his hands against the surprise quarterfinalist who defeated both Milos Raonic and Fabio Fognini to get to the last eight.
Lopez served for the set at 5-3, but withstood a severe challenge from Djokovic who held a break point. An extended rally that had to be replayed due to an incorrect line call ended up giving Lopez a chance to try again. He fought off the break point and then later, on his second set point, served an ace to give himself the set 6-3 and the fans who stayed behind at Arthur Ashe Stadium a longer evening of tennis.
Djokovic resumed control in the third set when Lopez struck a double fault while down break point. That gave the top seed a lead that he would hold onto as he took the third set 6-3.
Lopez didn't fade away though as the match went well past the midnight hour. With potent serving and fine net play, Lopez found himself at 5-4. Djokovic held serve and avoided a fifth set by taking this set into a tiebreak.
That was where Djokovic rose to the challenge. Taking control early in the tiebreak, Djokovic finished off Lopez after 1 a.m. to once again reach the semifinalis in New York 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2).
"He's one of the rare players who serves and volley on each serve and he's got a really big serve," Djokovic told ESPN's Brad Gilbert right after. "I played a pretty bad game in the second set and the set was gone so in the fourth set he had a couple of break points and I didn't have any chances on his serve until the tiebreak and I played a very good one, so glad to get through in four."
Djokovic faces next defending champion and No. 9 seed Marin Cilic who got past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets.