Novak Djokovic destroys Kei Nishikori to make semi-finals

Novak Djokovic was in near-pefect form as he crushed Kei Nishikori in the men’s quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

Djokovic raced through the opening sets looking utterly untouchable, and hugely improved from the player who was taken to five sets by Gilles Simon in the fourth round.

Nishikori, however, found something at the start of the third set and broke the world number one - then, while leading 3-1, very nearly claimed a second break.

Djokovic saved himself from deuce, however, won the next three games in a row as well, and then served out for a 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory. 

It gave the Serb a place in the semi-finals, and also a measure of revenge for the defeat inflicted by Nishikori at the 2014 US Open.  

Djokovic now plays third seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals - a match-up which has seen each man win 22 times against the other, including the last two Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. Djokovic came out on top in both of those.

"I just needed to weather the storm and wait for my opportunities," said Djokovic of his blip in the third set.

Djkovic added that after his poor fourth round showing, he took a day off entirely on Monday, not even practising. 

"Sometimes less is more," he explained. "It's like hitting the reset button...

"And after four and a half hours [against Simon] I think I had enough match practice."

Novak Djokovic v Kei Nishikori: As it happened

Of Federer, Djokovic said, "It's always a great challenge.

"His achievements, what he's done in this sport... he's something I have great respect for."

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