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.

DJOKOVIC 2-4 NISHIKORI. Kei is put through the grinder but comes through the test. Several times he thinks he’s in a winning position but Djoker keeps piling on the pressure. The Japanese saves break point and outlasts the Serb in a number of baseline exchanges. It’s been a really positive period of play for the 2014 US Open finalist.

DJOKOVIC 2-3 NISHIKORI. Djokovic has been muttering away to his box but comes out and finds that serving mojo. He earns some quick, cheap points before concluding the love hold with a crisp volley that wrong-foots his opponent.

DJOKOVIC 1-3 NISHIKORI. Wow. Kei rolling back the years like it’s 2014. He lashes a pearl of a backhand winner that clips the line before a wide ace sees him consolidate with aplomb.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 1-2 NISHIKORI. Brilliant from Kei. The nature of that hold has given him a major lift and he finds his A-game on the return. He tees up triple break point and although Nole saves one, a chip and charge tactic on the return rushes the world number one and forces an error wide.

DJOKOVIC 1-1 NISHIKORI. It’s looking bleak as Djoker sizzles a backhand winner up the line and then outlasts the world No.56 to clock up two break points. However, the Japanese digs deep and saves both, with the second seeing him come out on top with a volley at the net following a wonderful rally. Two huge serves then get Kei out of dodge and he’s on the board. For the sake of the match as a spectacle, it’s important Nishikori gains some belief out there.

DJOKOVIC 1-0 NISHIKORI. That won’t get it done from Nishikori’s perspective. He barely makes a return and only troubles the board via a Djoker double fault. Routine for Nole and Kei will have to find his rhythm fast or it’ll be the same old story in this match-up.

Djokovic will serve first...

H2H: Djokovic owns the match-up 17-2 and emphatically triumphed 6-2 6-0 in the quarter finals of the Tokyo Olympics recently. Kei’s last win was back in 2014 on this very stage, shocking the Serb 6-4 1-6 7-6 6-3 in the semi finals.