After losing a first-set tiebreaker Saturday to tour veteran Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic looked hungry like a wolf — his favorite predator.
Then, after breaking Nishikori early in the second set, Djokovic let out a howl, and the rest was relatively easy at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic posted a four-set victory over Nishikori, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, to move into the fourth round of the U.S. Open — four matches from completing the Grand Slam.
Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, sat in the stands wearing a black T-shirt inscribed: “I Run with The Wolf.’’
The Serbian has talked about a special bond with wolves since his childhood in Serbia. He has channeled that energy on the court along the way to 20 major titles and the first three majors of 2021. One more Open title, and he will have won all four majors in a single year for the Grand Slam — not accomplished by a men’s player since Rod Laver in 1969.
That his wife was wearing a “Wolf’’ T-shirt was no coincidence.
“She runs with the wolf,’’ Djokovic said in the on-court interview. “It can be very stressful to run with the wolf, and she doesn’t enjoy it at all times. It’s kind of living on the edge running with the wolf. But I love her, and she’s given great support.’’
Djokovic’s wife laughed as her husband went on his wolf spiel. And the couple will be laughing into history if Djokovic wins a dozen more sets at Flushing Meadows.
He’ll next meet American wild-card Jenson Brooksby, who beat 21st-seeded Aslan Karatsev of Russia 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 Saturday night.
Nishikori, who beat Djokovic in the 2014 Open semifinals, but had lost 16 straight against him, gave the Serbian a scare by winning the first set.
“It was a high level of tennis,’’ Djokovic said. “I had to work for the victory. I think every set was tight. I thought he played great. He didn’t give me much time.’’
The pride of Japan, at 4-4 in the tiebreaker, reeled off three straight points for the first set, and the crowd was in full roar, looking at a potential upset.
A baseline battler with speed, Nishikori, the 2014 Open finalist, struck a lovely backhand lob over the net-charging Djokovic for a 5-4 tiebreak lead. Djokovic then hit two unforced errors, and the crowd was jacked.
“I don’t think I started off too well,’’ Djokovic said. “I was too passive and too far back on the court. Beginning of the second set, I felt I’m getting my rhythm back. At some point, I wasn’t at my best, but I was determined and concentrated.’’
Djokovic, 34, has lost just two sets in his first three matches as he marches toward history. Maybe he’s not in top form, but he’s still considered a favorite to pull this off.
If he wins the fourth-round match, he could face a three-match gauntlet of Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals, Alexander Zverev in the semifinals and Daniil Medvedev in the finals.
He will need to summon all of that wolf energy — as he has called it. And he will need to get over his wolf-like demons from last year’s fourth round here, when he accidently struck a lineswoman with a ball, forcing his disqualification at the fan-less event.