By Bill Scott Sep 2, 2008, 21:08 GMT
New York - Novak Djokovic overcame fitness dramas including ankle, hip, stomach and breathing problems to squeeze into the quarter-finals of the US Open over Tommy Robredo 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 on Tuesday.
The Serb third seed, never noted as a towering physical specimen, looked especially fragile at the end of the three-hour 45-minute marathon, leaning heavily on the net and breathing hard in a post- match interview.
'It was an incredible match,' said the world number three, 2007 losing finalist against Roger Federer. 'I won't talk about everything that is bothering me.
'But whomever I play next (either Andy Roddick or Fernando Gonzalez) will be more physically fit than me.'
Djokovic was seen by the trainer several times and also by the tournament doctor when the seed complained of an upset stomach. In addition, he nearly rolled his right ankle, was treated on a hip and appeared to be constantly out of breath.
Spain's 15th seed Roberdo took the dramatic fourth set into a fifth as he broke Djokovic in the final game after saving three break points a game earlier.
But Djokovic found enough puff in the final stanza to advance on the strength of a break in the fifth game.
'I was not frustrated to go to a fifth set,' said the winner. 'He deserted to win the fourth.
'I didn't know how I was feeling to start the fifth, but I'm happy to get through.'
Elena Dementieva stretched her run of Olympic form, with the Russian gold medallist reaching the women's semi-finals of the 6-2, 6-3 over Patty Schnyder.
The fifth seed will test herself in a bid for a second final at Flushing Meadows when she plays the winner from Serb second seed Jelena Jankovic and Austrian Sybille Bammer.
Bammer is the first mother in a Grand Slam quarter-final in 17 years since Peru's Laura Gildemeister at Wimbledon.
Dementieva, who lost the 2004 final to Svetlana Kuznetsova, spent 76 minutes in defeating Schnyder as the Swiss struck 29 unforced errors.
Dementieva could take over the WTA number one ranking for the first time with a tournament victory. She has won 16 of her last 18 matches dating to Montreal in early August.
Her victory was her 11th straight and 16th of her last 18 matches in a summer run of form.
'I'm very excited to be in the semis, but I'm sure I need to improve my game and play a better match if I want to go to the final,' said the Russian.
'I feel really comfortable, but I realise that I need to improve. I need to play better at my next match. Every win gives you a lot of confidence, and you just want to continue to play like that.'
View blog reactions
Add your comment (no registration required)
page: 1
Tennisfan2Sep 3rd, 2008 - 00:22:40
Djoke is a cheater and faker. He plays these little dramas to buy time. He has a history of it.
Report this comment
Advertising
Tennisfan2Sep 3rd, 2008 - 00:22:40
Djoke is a cheater and faker. He plays these little dramas to buy time. He has a history of it.
Report this comment