Novak Djokovic didn't let Philipp Kohlschreiber stand in the way of another Grand Slam quarter-final berth yesterday, reaching the US Open last eight with a straight-sets win over the German.
Serbia's world No 1 defeated Kohlschreiber 6-1 7-5 6-4 on another muggy day at Flushing Meadows, reaching the last eight at the US Open for the eighth straight year.
It's his 22nd successive Grand Slam quarter-final, a run that stretches back to Kohlschreiber's victory over him in the third round of the 2009 French Open.
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The Wimbledon champion looked headed for a short day's work when he raced through the first set in 25 minutes.
But Kohlschreiber dug in, keeping his nose in front on serve and forcing Djokovic to fend off a set point in the 10th game of the second.
Djokovic did so with a stinging forehand passing shot to end a rally that sent the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd wild, then broke Kohlschreiber for a 6-5 lead.
Serving for the set Djokovic saved another break point with an off-speed service winner and having wrapped up the second set he broke Kohlschreiber to open the third and marched home from there.
Djokovic will play either eighth-seeded Andy Murray or ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a semi-final berth. Murray and Tsonga renewed an old rivalry in which the Scot has won nine of their 11 career meetings.
Tsonga, however, won their last encounter, beating Murray on the hardcourts of Toronto en route to the Masters title there in August.
