It is almost time for the world number one to take centre stage. Novak Djokovic’s bid for the calendar Grand Slam continues today against Japan’s Kei Nishikori. The players are due out on court at Arthur Ashe Stadium shortly.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 6-2 NISHIKORI. The world No.1’s bid for a calendar Grand Slam and a stand-alone record of 21 majors rolls on as he saves two break points to serve out the contest from deuce on his third match point. The Serbinator was given a stern test for large spells by Kei but once he took the second set always looked like coming through and did so in three hours and 32 minutes. He will now meet Karatsev or Brooksby next.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 5-2 NISHIKORI. There’s the insurance break. Djokovic tees up break point with a trademark backhand winner up the line before outlasting Nishikori in a crosscourt exchange. The Serbinator will now serve for the match.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 4-2 NISHIKORI. The world number one finds a flurry of huge serves to easily consolidate.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 3-2 NISHIKORI. Is that a killer blow? It could well be the case. Djokovic shows his intent with another mesmerising winner to start the game. He quickly takes advantage of some sloppy work from Kei to snare triple BP. The Japanese manages to re-focus to save two but then hooks a forehand long. Cue the Djokovic roar!

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 2-2 NISHIKORI. Another simple but highly effective hold for Djokovic. You sense Kei is going to have to break first if he’s to have any chance from this juncture.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 1-2 NISHIKORI. The world No.56 responds to a sublime Djoker return winner with an even better crosscourt backhand to nudge the board in his favour once more.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 1-1 NISHIKORI. The Djokovic serve is the key difference in this match-up. He just get a far greater share of cheap points than Nishikori. The Serb has not had it all his own way today but enjoys an efficient hold here to level things up.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 0-1 NISHIKORI. Kei is taking more and more risk. This time it pays off. He clips an edge of the line on a second serve which catches Djokovic out and creates the chance for him to lash home a forehand crosscourt winner. The Japanese finds some timely first serves and gets on the board first in Set 4.

SET! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 6-3 NISHIKORI. The Serb moves to within a set of round four. He lets out one of those familiar roars as he absolutely corks a backhand up the line. The Serb is a couple of millimetres away when trying to convert the first of two set points but then screams even louder as Kei blasts long on the second.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 5-3 NISHIKORI. So much hard work from Kei but he still can’t back up the break. He does brilliantly to move 40-30 up from 0-30 down but feels the nerves at deuce. He saves break point but then goes too heavy looking to get out of dodge with a sizzling backhand. Djokovic earns another chance and the Japanese again feels he needs to hit a powerhouse forehand to make any breakthrough and ends up slapping it into the net. Novak will now serve for the set.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 4-3 NISHIKORI. That’s a plot twist we weren’t expecting. Djokovic hammers an ace down the middle T for 40-0 but then begins to lose his way. Nishikori makes deuce with a crosscourt forehand winner on the run and then snares a BP but a backhand winner up the line sees Novak save it. He puts his hands to his ears and soaks up the adulation. He does it again picking up game point but then inexplicably fires down a pair of double faults. Nishikori defends the second serve and punches the air as the Serb fizzes a crosscourt attempt wide.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 4-2 NISHIKORI. Djokovic steers a backhand just long and can’t force deuce from 40-0 down. Kei stays in the set but you sense the damage has been done.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 4-1 NISHIKORI. The world No.1 hammers home his advantage by consolidating with a hold to 15.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 3-1 NISHIKORI. Case in point. The top seed conjures up two break points. Kei saves one, but the Serbinator hones in on his target and makes it count. Nole is four from 10 but Nishikori is just one from nine.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 2-1 NISHIKORI. The 20-time Grand Slam champion keeps his nose in front. Kei needs to make the most of these games that he’s causing problems in. It’s been a tight match but since the tie break Djokovic has had the upper hand.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 1-1 NISHIKORI. Gutsy work from Nishikori. He has Djokovic taking a tumble deep beyond his baseline with a bold strike to save BP. He’s not giving up just yet and manages to pull off the hold despite some very sharp attacking from his opponent.

DJOKOVIC 6-7 6-3 1-0 NISHIKORI. Djokovic keeps winning the key points. Kei re-directs the Nole power to brilliantly make 30-30 with a clever winner but the Serb finds the big serve and duly eases through from there.