NEW YORK — On high alert after a day of spectacular upsets, world number one Novak Djokovic made sure his name was not added to the list of shocks, crushing defending champion Marin Cilic 6-0 6-1 6-2 to reach the U.S. Open final on Friday.
After watching women's world number one Serena Williams and second seed Simona Halep crash out on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, Djokovic came out firing on all cylinders and needed just 85 minutes to bring Cilic's title defense to a shuddering halt.
But it was the end of another defense that had New York buzzing, as Roberta Vinci delivered one of the biggest upsets in tennis history with her semi-final win over Williams that punctured the American's calendar Grand Slam quest.