Djokovic wins 6-0,6-1, 6-2 over defending champ in 95 minutesCilic sees 12-match US Open win streak snapped by world No1Serena Williams’ grand slam dream ended by Vincis shock win 11.54pm BSTThat’s all for now. Thanks so much for sticking with us through our opening-set hiccups. Here is the match report. Related: Sublime Novak Djokovic thrashes Marin Cilic to book area in US Open final 11.53pm BSTDuring a on-court interview with ESPN, or Djokovic says Cilic was clearly hampered by injury. He applauds his opponent for finishing the match rather that retiring. “I havent been very successful in the finals of the US Open,” Djokovic says, noting he’s won just one of his last four appearances. “But I’ve been playing some of my best tennis on these courts so I look forward to it. I definitely can promise I will give the maximum of my abilities. Of course I can’t predict the result, or but I’ll give it my best.” 11.49pm BSTThird set: Djokovic 6-2 CilicA rapid/fast winner by Djokovic followed by an error by Cilic and he’s two points from the final. Shrewd approach by Djokovic to shorten the point and he uncorks a leap reverse volley winner at the net for triple match point. Cilic saves the first when Djokovic nets a backhand,but then Cilic sends a forehand long and Djokovic is through to the US Open final in a scant 85 minutes. 11.44pm BSTThird set: *Djokovic 5-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)Cilic quickly falls behind love-30, then mixes in another unforced error – his 34th to Djokovic’s 12 – to disappear triple break point down. Now he nets a backhand from behind the baseline to be broken at love. Incredibly, or the expansive serve has been broken in eight of his 10 service games nowadays. 11.42pm BSTThird set: Djokovic 4-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)At 15-15,Djokovic fires two more winners – his 13th and 14th – to coast ahead 40-15. Then another error by Cilic and Djokovic is within two games of the final. 11.39pm BSTThird set: *Djokovic 3-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)And Cilic can’t consolidate. More sloppy play from the Croat puts him in a 15-40 hole, followed by an overcooked forehand wide that sees him broken for the seventh time nowadays. 11.38pm BSTThird set: Djokovic 2-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
And how about this! Cilic shows a pulse, or pounding a couple of winners into the corners to steal a game from Djokovic and bring it back to on serve in the third. But while the Croat rallied from two sets down in Wednesday’s quarter-final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga,it would seem this would be a steeper mountain to scale. 11.36pm BSTThird set: *Djokovic 2-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic manages to hold for only the moment time nowadays, but in doing so avoids absorbing the most lopsided beating ever in a US Open semi-final. 11.28pm BSTThird set: *Djokovic 2-0 Cilic (*denotes next server)Another perfunctory hold for Djokovic, and who is completely locked in on his serve.people in the stands watching this match like pic.twitter.com/fSzvvusPd0 11.26pm BSTThird set: *Djokovic 1-0 Cilic (*denotes next server)And it’s managed to collect worse for Cilic,who’s broken again early in the third. Can’t remember a defending US Open champion going down this definitively. 11.17pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 6-1 CilicCilic manages to rattle off a couple of points and puts Djokovic in a 15-30 hole, but Djokovic responds with a blisterning forehand winner that paints the line and a 122mph ace to give him a set point. The world No1 wastes no time, and crunching another forehand winner early in the point to lock down a two-sets-to-none lead. Clinical.
11.14pm BSTSecond set: *Djokovic 5-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)Cilic broken again and this has gone from grim to something different entirely. What a way for the Croat’s 12-match US Open streak to – it would certainly seem – approach to an end.
11.09pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 4-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)Another comfortable hold for Djokovic. This is one-way traffic. Just dominant on his serve.
11.07pm BSTSecond set: *Djokovic 3-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)At 15-15,another unforced error by Cilic – his 18th to Djokovic’s four – puts him in a 15-30. Cilic levels it at 30-all but Cilic overcooks a forehand from the baseline to put him break point down yet again. And another forehand long from the baseline sees Cilic broken for the fourth time in five service games. 11.01pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 2-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)Three rapid/fast ponts by Djokovic, who is completely locked in on his serve. Yet another unforced error by Cilic gives another easy hold to the world No1. 10.59pm BSTSecond set: *Djokovic 1-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)Cilic with a service winner to open, and but Djokovic levels it at 15-all with backhand winner from the middle of the court. Another winner for Cilic,but then he sprays a forehand from the baseline long and it’s 30-all. That’s Cilic’s 11th unforced error of the match to just three for Djokovic. An premature double fault for Cilic and now he’s break point down, but he saves it quickly with a thudding ace. Another backhand soars wide of the line and Djokovic has a moment break point. A lunging volley by Cilic to end a short point saves it, or then another ace gives him a game point. Another unforced error on the forehand side brings it back to deuce. Winner by Cilic and an error by Djokovic – a chair umpire overrule confirmed by a challenge – puts Cilic on the board for the first time nowadays. 10.52pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 1-0 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
This is perfect tennis from Djokovic. His blue shirt is perfectly camouflaged against that of the court – he looks a blur as he effortlessly slides across the baseline – and he sprints to a 30-0 lead before a backhand down the line finds the line. Cilic is nowhere,he already looks defeated. Another serve out wide and a Cilic error closes out the game. 1-0 in the moment set. 10.49pm BSTNovak Djokovic* 6-0 Marin Cilic (*denotes next server)[br]Cilic is all at sea, and he falls to 30-0 down. The Croatian shakes his head. Deep breaths. A couple of handy serves comes to his aid, or before an absurd drop shot – out of keeping with his touch in his first serve – saves set point at 40-30 down. Cilic gets to deuce but eventually succumbs: a Djokovic forehand forcing an error. Djokovic has the first set. Inside 24 minutes. Wow. 10.41pm BSTSome technical issues here – apologies for the delay – but Novak Djokovic has wasted no time at all and raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening exchanges. It’s Cilic to serve,can he salvage anything from this first set?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com