by Brendan Cole
Djokovic 6-0 5-1 Niland (Niland retd.)
Djokovic is relentless and Niland is forced to quit.
To win the first point, Djokovic ends another long rally with a drop shot backhand that an exhausted Niland bravely tries to reach but can't get near.
And Djokovic moves his opponent around the court with ease to take the next two points and set up three more breakpoints.
Then, a pummelled backhand on a short and weak second serve ends the match, as Niland holds his hands up and says 'enough' and walks up the court to shake hands.
Djokovic showed no mercy during the match. sympathises at the net as they shake hands - he moves on easily.
Niland had three winners and 18 unforced errors so far. His serve has also been suspect at key moments.
Very tough for him, but his food poisoning has turned this match into a nightmare.
Djokovic 6-0 4-1 Niland
Another lightning fast hold to love for Djokovic, Niland's desperate attempt at a defensive lob falling short on the last point after he reached Djokovic's casually clipped backhand from up by the net.
That probably should have been a winner from Djokovic, but he is on autopilot now.
Djokovic 6-0 3-1 Niland
Niland is broken again.
He is quickly 0-30 down and can't get back in the game, losing a punishingly long rally off his second serve to give up breakpoints.
He is clearly physically in distress.
And he loses the game when his drop shot volley is ruthlessly chased down by Djokovic and put away to claim another break.
2032 No trainer visit. Play is continuing without a long stoppage.
Djokovic 6-0 2-1 Niland
Djokovic has won this game in double quick time though, finishing it with a laserlike cross court forehand.
The players sit down for another change of ends, and Niland is likely to see the trainer.
Djokovic 6-0 1-1 Niland
A game for Niland!
First, he wins another superb rally - a 16 shot exchange that ended with Djokovic sending a groundstroke fractionally long - to go 15-0 up.
But he double faults next and looks tired as Djokovic looks fresh and his superb fitness is obvious.
Niland misses a backhand from halfway up the court next but - playing with a bit more bounce and rhythm - forces another Djokovic error to make it 30-30. The Croat hit a routine shot long that time.
And a brilliant curving forehand down the line sees him secure a first game point.
And he wins it from there, charging the net and then seeing Djokovic clip the top of it with his passing shot attempt and having his ball go out.
But Niland has his hands on his knees after that effort and is clealy not 100%.
Djokovic 6-0 1-0 Niland
Djokovic continues unperturbed by that short break.
He gives up a double fault to make it 15-15 after opening with a wide serve that Niland just about touched but could not return.
Another wide serve sets up 30-15, Niland failing to reach the opposite corner in time, and another Niland poor forehand sees the score go to 15-40.
But Djokovic hits the net with a routine forehand next but another lashed backhand - after a long rally - sees Niland again unable to keep his own backhand in.
Another game for Djokovic.
2020 Niland has called the trainers on to the court. He was thought to be suffering with food poisoning before the match and has also rubbed his right shoulder.
Not quite sure what the problem is. He will be assessed again and possibly treated at the change of ends.
Djokovic 6-0 Niland
Niland again sends a backhand long early in the game and though the errors look 'unforced', the pace of Djokovic's groundstrokes is clearly putting pressure on him.
But two Djokovic mistakes give him an opening, a net cord and a wide backhand as he gets it back to 30-30. But Djokovic quickly reasserts himself, and another error from Niland - a forehand on a low bouncing ball pulled way wide - hand him the set.
Djokovic 5-0 Niland
Niland errors again prove costly.
A routine forehand into the net at 30-15 saw him give up two game points before a forehand that went fractionally long - and was reviewed - handed another game to Djokovic.
Niland needed to play his best tennis, have a bit of luck and play an out of form Djokovic to be competitive but none of those three things have happened.
Djokovic 4-0 Niland
Djokovic is cantering along here with errors from Niland meaning he cannot create any pressure and helping his opponent lead without breaking sweat.
He hits the net again on the first point when attempting a leaping forehand but an ace sees him make it 15-15. But it goes to 15-40 when he sends groundstrokes long.
A frame hit sees Niland save the first breakpoint but Niland sends another backhand long to give up another break.
Djokovic 3-0 Niland
No respite yet for Niland.
Niland wins an exciting point early, taking on Djokovic at the net and winning a sharp exchange. But Djokovic recovers and a lasered inside out forehand put him 30-15 up.
Niland got to 30-30 from there as Djokovic sent his next forehand long but a point won and another ace saw Djokovic take a 3-0 lead.
Djokovic 2-0 Niland
Break for Djokovic.
Niland started with a double fault and then got a rally going but was then wide with an angled backhand to go 0-30 down. Another missed first serve and a forehand hit way wide handed Djokovic three game points.
And having created a winning position on the last point, Niland missed with an overhead to give up the early break.
Nervy stuff from Niland.
Djokovic 1-0 Niland
Easy enough hold for Djokovic to start the match. Niland returned his serve a couple of times, but his backhand let him down, hitting the net and then going long to go 40-0 down.
A good shot to Djokovic's forehand saw him miss on the run and Niland earned his first point but Djokovic sealed the game with an ace down the T.
That was a 121mph serve to close the game out.
1956 "Attack the second serve, attack the forehand side" is TV analyst Greg Rusedki's advice. Djokovic will serve first.
1955 Niland is wearing white (with a couple of blue-ish stripes)! Twitter proves itself a most reliable source again.....#betrayal
On court, the players are getting ready. Serves are being limbered up - won't be long till first shot is struck in anger.
1945 The source of that Conor Niland/green shirt rumour:
Conor Niland (via twitter @conorniland1): Thanks for all the messages everyone and I cannot wait to play main draw of the US Open next week! I'll be wearing a green shirt. #boom!
Looks like many of those on twitter are going to #supportniland again - the tag took off during the Wimbledon match.
1940 This picture captured Niland's feelings after that epic five set defeat at Wimbledon.
1935 Wozniacki has won the match (6-3 6-1) to progress.
The Dane lost three matchpoints before securing her progress as Llagostera Vives found extra power and played good deep shots to her opponent's backhand side.
But she was unable to keep a hard forehand to her feet in and Wozniacki progresses.
Niland is up now.
1920 Wozniacki is cantering to victory now - she won the first set (6-3) and two quick breaks in the second set have put her 4-1 up in that. Niland should be on court very soon.
1840 Wozniacki has got an early break to lead 3-1 in the first set. If she can build momentum from here, it could mean Niland will be on even sooner than expected.
1825 Wozniacki is now on court and has won her first game against Llagostera Vives. The Dane has a record of getting into difficulty in the Slams but she is way ahead of the next placed player (Vera Zvonerava) in the World Rankings.
She was the beaten finalist at the US Open in 2009.
Llagostera Vives has held her serve to make it 1-1.
1730 It's time to support Conor Niland again as Limerick's finest gets set to take on Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
Tonight's match is expected to take place at around 7.30pm (Irish time) this evening. The exact start time depends on when the preceding match between Caroline Wozniacki and Nuria Llagostera Vives finishes.
Niland suffered massive disappointment in his last Grand Slam outing, losing a five set thriller to Frenchman Adriano Mannarino to miss out on the chance to play Roger Federer on centre court at Wimbledon.
To get into the main draw for the US Open, Niland came back from a set down to beat Matwe Middlekoop of the Netherlands (2-6 6-1 6-4).
