After tackling two US Open debutants, Novak Djokovic has faced an old foe, reaching the fourth round with a 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 6-2 win over Kei Nishikori to stay on course for a record 21st major title to complete the calendar Grand Slam.
After first-ever meetings with Denmark's Holger Rune and Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, Djokovic faced a seasoned campaigner in Nishikori, who was runner-up at the 2014 US Open, having beaten the Serb to move into that year's final.
Since then, the rivalry has been one-way traffic, with Djokovic sweeping 17 straight contests against the Japanese player, improving his head-to-head record to 18-2.
But after Nishikori's 6-2 6-0 quarter-final thumping from the world No.1 at the Tokyo Olympics, the 31-year-old made Djokovic sweat for his victory.
Usually the headliner under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights, Djokovic made a matinee appearance and appeared unsettled by the conditions, as he went to work under a blazing sun.
Nishikori snatched a tight opening set in a tiebreak, before Djokovic began to settle into the contest, breaking the Japanese player twice in the second to level the match at a set apiece.
In another workmanlike effort, the top seed took the decisive break in the third to go ahead 5-3, then held serve for a 2-1 lead.
Now in control, Djokovic left Nishikori no openings for a comeback, storming through the last four games of the fourth set to close out the contest in style.
Djokovic now advances to face US wildcard Jenson Brooksby, who beat Russian Aslan Karatsev in his third-round tie.
Reuters.
