Djokovic into final, Nadal retires

Novak Djokovic is through to his eighth US Open final after easing past Kei Nishikori to book a date with Juan Martin del Potro, who reached the decider after Rafael Nadal retired due to an injury to his right knee.

Djokovic flew out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set after breaking Nishikori in the second game of the match. Try as he might, Nishikori had no answer to Djokovic’s serve. The Serbian clinched the first set 6-3 with two consecutive love holds.

Djokovic had five chances to break in the opening game of the second, but Nishikori saved all of them and got on to the board. In the second game, Djokovic was the one who had to save some break points as Nishikori failed to take advantage.

In the fifth game, Nishikori presented Djokovic with four more break opportunities. The Serbian took advantage of the last one to get a vital break and went on to take the second set 6-4.

Nishikori held the first game of the third to love, but that was the only positive he could take from that set. Djokovic broke him twice and did not concede a single break point to book his place in the US Open final for an incredible eighth time.

In the night’s other match, Del Potro claimed his place in the final after world No 1 Nadal had to retire due to a troubling knee injury.

With Del Potro leading by two sets to none, Nadal could not continue and forfeited a spot in the final to the Argentinian.

The match didn’t start very well for Nadal as he was broken in the very first game, but he got the break back the following game. The exact same thing happened in games nine and 10. Del Potro broke and was serving for the set, but he failed to convert two set-points and Nadal broke back as the set went to a tie-break. Del Potro completely dominated the breaker as Nadal could only win two points on his own serve and conceded the opening set 7-6.

Nadal had his knee taped in the second set, as it became clear that he was struggling to move around the court. Del Potro broke him twice and took the second set 6-2.

It looked like Nadal was prepared to play the third set, but his trainer informed the umpire that the Spaniard was unable to continue and had to forfeit the match.

It was not the way he wanted it, but Del Potro will be delighted to advance to his second US Open final.