Novak Djokovic reveals what he told John Millman during mid-set US Open break
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has revealed that he told John Millman not to apologise for having to leave the court during their US Open quarter-final clash to change clothes.
With Djokovic leading 6-3, 2-2 in clammy conditions at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a short break was afforded for Millman to change his sweat-drenched clothes.
Temperatures have taken their toll on the New York tournament with Roger Federer citing the conditions as a factor in his shock defeat to Australian Millman in the previous round.
The world No 55 was caught by television cameras apologising to 13-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, insisting that he needed to go and change because of the heat and humidity inside the arena.
But the Serbian, in his on-court interview, insisted that it provided a welcome break for him to collect his thoughts and draw breath on the way to a straight-sets win to book his 11th straight US Open semi-final.
The two-time Flushing Meadows winner, who has also finished as a runner up on five occasions, said: “I was struggling, he was struggling - we were all sweating. Changing a lot of t-shirts and shorts!
“I was just trying to hang in there and find a way to win the match.
“Sometimes, actually it happened a couple of times already this tournament, that you survive on the court in a way and then thrive with a win.
“Definitely not easy conditions to play in but [it was the] same for both players.”
On the six-minute break, Djokovic added: “He [Millman] was apologising, actually. He was saying that he felt very sorry that he had to leave the court but he was sweating so much.
He was saying that he felt very sorry that he had to leave the court but he was sweating so much.
“I said, ‘Man, go ahead! I’m actually okay sitting down for 10 minutes, just relaxing.’ I needed that rest so that was great.”
The pair also shared a friendly exchange after the match and asked what the pair were saying, Djokovic said: “[We were just showing] Respect for each other. I’ve played him only once in my career, a month ago in London on grass [at Queen’s].
“I’ve known him, he’s been around a few years. He’s been known around the tour as a guy with a hard work ethic and you can see that.
“He fights for every point and he’s never going to hand you the win. He played an amazing tournament.”
The United States Tennis Association released a statement after Djokovic’s victory explaining the decision to allow the break.
They said: “At two games all in the second set of the Novak Djokovic-John Millman match, Millman approached the chair umpire to note his excessive sweating and the moisture it was leaving on the court.
“The chair determined that the surface was dangerous enough to invoke the 'Equipment Out of Adjustment' provision in the ITF Duties and Procedures for Officials and allowed Millman to go off court to change clothes/shoes. Both players agreed that he should do so.
“Because the chair umpire deemed the situation within the 'Equipment Out of Adjustment' provision, Millman was not charged with an official change of attire or bathroom break.
“A similar situation occurred between the fourth and fifth sets of last night's Rafael Nadal-Dominic Thiem match, when Thiem was allowed to retrieve dry shoes from the locker room, which extended the normal amount of time that elapses between sets.
“If requested at the beginning of a change-over, a player is allowed reasonable extra time during the change-over to change wet shoes/socks, provided the new shoes/socks are prepared.
“This shall be granted only once in a match, unless the provisions for “Equipment out of Adjustment” take precedent (e.g. when the wet shoes/socks are making the court unplayable). In that case the Chair Umpire has the authority to decide each request on its own merit.”
Djokovic faces Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals with defending champion Rafael Nadal facing Juan Martin del Potro in the other final-four contest.