Novak Djokovic into Australian Open semi-final as Kei Nishikori retires

After just 52 minutes it was all over, Novak Djokovic through to yet another grand slam semi-final as Kei Nishikori retired for the 18th time in his career. It’s not gone unnoticed.

Djokovic has every reason to feel confident. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

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After just 52 minutes it was all over, done and dusted, Novak Djokovic through to yet another grand slam semi-final, his 34th in total.

The ending was not as we suspected, Kei Nishikori unable to continue after earlier treatment to his right leg, but the end result was, a resounding Djokovic victory.

“I am sorry for everybody for not having a full match tonight,” the Serb said albeit with the disclaimer that after a heavy physical battle in the previous round he was not unduly upset at giving his body some unexpected rest.

“It is exactly what the doctor ordered,” he said.

Djokovic got the rest he wanted. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

John McEnroe was not as sympathetic.

“The guy looked absolutely spent in the warm-up,” he told Channel 9.

“You could tell in the first game he was hurting bad. It is too bad, but it just again shows you in an individual sport, if you have to waste that much energy, and some of this was Kei’s fault, he should have put away Karlovic, he should have won his first round match against a qualifier more easily, he didn’t, it caught up with him.”

So when you’re playing elite sport, what do we read into this?

“It is sort of like a middleweight playing heavyweights. At a certain point, he gives in mentally. That is why he hired Chang. Michael wouldn’t do that. You could see Michael’s dismay, the coach, in the coach’s box.

“Why do you have to stop playing?” That is not in his DNA. He’s trying to get that more into Kei, but Kei is more conservative. Some guys and girls have higher thresholds for pain than others and they can go out there and compete at a higher level for longer. He is not one of them.”

The battle count against Nishikori now rises to 16-2 in what was effectively a non event before a full house.

Nishikori has had a tortuous route at times to this last eight, the 305 minute win over Pablo Carreno Busta in the last 16 only halted by the super tie-break. There is much to thank that innovation for.

Nishikori is not an easy man to watch week in, week out. Speedy and resilient, he is difficult to define, a retriever yet with an added excellence. Only it’s not quite enough, he has fallen short of the big men time and again and tonight was no different.

It was a painful finish for Nishikori. (Photo by Greg Wood / AFP)

“After three or four games when I was serving I felt pretty heavy to my right leg and after that I couldn’t bend my knee so I decided to stop,” Nishikori said. “I am sure it comes from my past matches, especially my last match, I was moving a lot and waste too much energy.”

“I couldn’t beat anybody with one leg, it was just too tough

Arguably it was all over before the 7.45pm start, Djokovic has played all his matches this tournament on Rod Laver Arena and looked fully at home, the Japanese player — who has endured three, five set matches to reach the last eight — appeared out of sorts and out of his depth from the off.

Djokovic has every reason to feel confident. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

The first three games went to Djokovic and he was never really tested. Up next is Lucas Pouille, the Frenchman an earlier surprise winner against the big serving Milos Raonic.

Already, Djokovic is looking ahead, should he prevail against Pouille he will face Rafael Nadal or Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final.

“Tsitsipas is one of the leaders of the next generation, he has played some outstanding tennis in this tournament. Against Roger (Federer) it was one of the best quality matches I have seen here over the years,” he said.

Novak Djokovic d Kei Nishikori 6-1, 4-1 (ret)

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