With Rafa on the Rome horizon, The Novak Djokovic Experience returned

If you’ve missed the Novak Djokovic Experience over the last two seasons, you were, finally, in luck on Friday. Over the course of his highly entertaining 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 quarterfinal win over Kei Nishikori in Rome, the former No. 1 brought all of its classic elements back to the stage for the first time in what felt like years.

He raged, he roared, he tore at his shirt, he made his eyeballs look like crazy novelty eyeballs. He leaped into his service returns, pounded his backhands from one corner to the other, and played with a conviction that bordered on fury. He screamed until his neck veins popped out after losing one point, and punched the air in celebration after making a sliding, body-bending get on another. In the end, just as in the old days, he wore down an opponent whom he has now beaten 13 straight times.

Djokovic has played some decent tennis this spring, and he had all of us crying “Vintage!” during the first set of his win over Albert Ramos-Viñolas on Thursday. While he never reached that level against Nishikori, this victory was more significant, because it involved the one thing that he hasn’t been able to pull off this year: on Friday, Djokovic saw a challenge, and, rather than retreat, as he so often has since 2016, he rose to it.

WATCH: Match point, Djokovic vs. Nishikori

It’s hard to remember now, but Nishikori looked all but unbeatable through the first set. He took the ball as early as possible, and flicked it effortlessly into the corners for winners. When he began the second set by reaching break point, it looked like another fresh disappointment—another low after the high of the Ramos-Viñolas match—was in store for Djokovic.

But the Serb saved that break point by forcing his way forward and finishing the rally with a smash. And he broke in the next game with a series of corner-to-corner backhands straight from the way-back machine. So far this year, Djokovic has let the game come to him, and waited for his form to return. Today he finally went out and grabbed it himself.

By the middle of the third set, there was only one classic element of the Djokovic Experience that he had yet to unveil: that moment when, his back to the wall, he pulls the ripcord, swings from the heels, and comes up with the perfect shot. It finally happened when he was serving at 4-3, down 0-30. The match wasn’t on the line with the next point, but his one-break advantage was.

Old Nole fans knew what was coming, and he didn’t disappoint: With his first ground stroke, he let an all-or-nothing forehand fly that touched down smack on the baseline for a winner. Less spectacular, but just as important, was the shot that Djokovic hit three points later to hold serve: Instead of kicking his second serve to Nishikori’s backhand, which is his usual play, Djokovic sliced it hard up the middle and forced an error.

On Thursday, Djokovic the player returned; on Friday, it was Djokovic the competitor who made his reappearance. Will the two of them be enough to trouble his next opponent, Rafael Nadal? Whatever the result, it’s good to be reminded of what the Djokovic Experience is all about, and to know that we’ll get to see it again.

-Tennis Channel Plus features five courts of live action from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia beginning Sunday, May 13 at 5:00 am ET!