Tired Djokovic fancies new super tiebreaker over fifth-set marathons

Novak Djokovic has thrown his support behind the Australian Open’s new super tiebreaker as he prepares to face a player who is quickly establishing himself as a poster boy for the concept.

For the second time in the tournament, Kei Nishikori prevailed 7-6 in the fifth set, making the last eight after trailing Pablo Carreno Busta 8-5 in the super tiebreaker and winning five points in a row as the Spaniard self-combusted.

History maker: Novak Djokovic is three wins away from claiming a record seventh Australian Open title.Credit:AAP

The Japanese eighth seed’s latest tense conclusion and triumph has set up a re-match of his semi-final at the US Open against Djokovic, who also beat Nishikori at the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open three years ago.

The world No.1 emerged tired and sore from his early morning finish against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday and despite his next opponent’s knack for the tournament’s latest innovation, he is a supporter of settling matches rather than playing on indefinitely under the old advantage system.

The Australian Open this year followed the lead of Wimbledon and the US Open by introducing final-set tiebreakers, although Melbourne Park’s first-to-10 format at 6-6 is different those of SW19 and Flushing Meadows.

Djokovic said he would prefer to back himself once the match reached that point than endure a marathon such as the famous epic between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, which the American finally won 70-68 in the fifth set.

“I actually thought it was a good change, a good innovation to say you play super tiebreak. I don't mind it personally,” Djokovic said.

“I'm more in favour of closing out the match in a tiebreak or super tiebreak rather than going for 11 hours like Isner and Mahut. Those type of matches are part of the history and I understand that, and I understand that, you know, those are the matches that you remember.

“But I think statistically percentage-wise … there is just a lot of matches that people don't recall, you know, that go the distance. And then actually the players who are part of those matches get hurt for the next round, like Isner did actually against Mahut in Wimbledon. He retired his next match or he couldn't move. I think the super tiebreak is fine.”

Unsurprisingly, Nishikori, who also pipped Croatian veteran Ivo Karlovic in the same fashion in round two here, is also not criticising it. “I’m getting used to this super tiebreak,” he said. “And, I mean, both times I came back from a break down. I’m happy to be finished like that.”

The issue for Nishikori will be getting to that point of the match. Djokovic has won the last 15 matches between the pair stretching back more than four years since Nishikori edged him in another US Open semi-final.

“You know, I have beaten him many times that we played each other in the last couple of years and that we played on different surfaces,” Djokovic said.

“I have lots of respect for him. We did play here several times. You know, every year is different so every match that you play against each other is different. I expect him obviously to come out, to try something new.”

Aiming to collect a record seventh Australian Open title, Djokovic fell awkwardly in the third set against Medvedev but said a minor back issue was unrelated.

“[It’s] nothing major,” he said. “But there are a couple of things that have surfaced. I’ll see how it goes.”

The other men’s singles quarter-final on Wednesday is between Canada’s Milos Raonic and Frenchmen Lucas Pouille.

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