Nwe York: Two-time champion Novak Djokovic ended John Millman's fairytale US Open run on Wednesday, beating the 55th-ranked Australian in straight sets to book a semifinal clash with Kei Nishikori.
The Serbian star, who ended a 54-week title drought with his 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, defeated the tenacious Aussie 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his 11th US Open semifinal in his last 11 appearances.
Nishikori, the 21st seed, advanced with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic - the man who beat him in the 2014 final.
"(I was) very tested," Djokovic said. "Almost three hours. It's midnight now. Credit to John for putting up a great battle."
Millman is used to the searing heat in his native Brisbane, but needed to leave court to change with the score level at 2-2 in the second, telling the umpire he was unable to put the ball in his pocket because his shorts were soaked through with sweat.
The US Tennis Association said in a statement that Millman was sweating so profusely that the moisture dripping onto court had made the surface too dangerous to play on.
"These night matches the humidity goes through the roof," Millman said. "It is tricky, but it's the same for both people. You're dripping.
"But that's no excuse or anything. I'd play in a swimming pool if I got to play a quarterfinal every week at a Grand Slam. That would be pretty fun."
Millman, who beat Roger Federer in the previous round, returned after a brief interval but found no joy against Djokovic's serve and the Serb broke the Australian in the penultimate game before serving out the second set.
The match was marked by long rallies, with 57 of the pair's exchanges stretching to more than nine shots.
"I was struggling, he was struggling," Djokovic added. "Changing a lot of t-shirts, shorts and just trying to hang in there and find a way to win the match.
"Not easy conditions to play in, but it's the same for both players."
Djokovic broke early to take a 3-1 leave in the third set but a lapse in concentration allowed Millman to draw level.
The Serb was given a time violation warning and double faulted to offer Millman a break point opportunity before losing his first serve after running down the shot clock a second time.
A forehand error from Djokovic let Millman level at 3-3 but the sixth seed carved out three break points in the next game, converting the third before serving out the match and sealing the win with a backhand volley in two hours, 48 minutes.
Meanwhile, Kei Nishikori's victory also completed a historic day for Japanese tennis with Naomi Osaka routing Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 6-1 and the pair became the first Japanese man and woman to reach the semifinals of the same grand slam.
"It's great to see," said Nishikori. "I think she can win a title now, even though grand slam. I feel it is a big chance for her. I am also happy for myself."
It was a much different outcome from 2014 when the big-hitting Cilic floored the Japanese counter-puncher 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to claim the US title.
Cilic has made two grand slam finals since but Nishikori has never been back and will now take on either twice US Open champion Novak Djokovic or unseeded Australian John Millman for a spot in Sunday's final.
It has already been a successful return to Flushing Meadows for Nishikori who missed the US Open last year with a wrist injury that saw his ranking plunge and put him on the comeback trail that included playing Challenger-level tournaments.
But after reaching the final in Monte Carlo, the French Open fourth round and the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Nishikori believes an elusive first grand slam is within reach.
