NEW YORK – Kei Nishikori became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final when he swept past seven-time major winner Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open semifinals on Saturday.
The 10th seed braved on-court temperatures nudging the 40-degree mark to clinch a famous 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over the world No. 1.
Nishikori, the first Japanese man since 1918 to reach the semi-finals in New York, goes on to face either 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer or Croatia’s Marin Cilic in Monday’s championship match.
His victory over Wimbledon champion Djokovic will go down as one of the sport’s greatest shocks.
The 27-year-old Serb was the 2011 champion in New York, was playing in his eighth successive U.S. Open semi-final and bidding for a sixth final, his 15th overall at the majors.
The top seed was also looking to make his third Grand Slam final of 2014.
Prior to this year, Nishikori’s only Grand Slam quarterfinals appearances was at the Australian Open in 2012, losing in straight sets to Murray.
After beating Wawrinka, Nishikori became the first Japanese semifinalist at the U.S. Open since Ichiya Kumagae in 1918. The previous Japanese man to reach the final four at any Grand Slam was Jiro Satoh at Wimbledon in 1933.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” said a breathless Nishikori.
“I was a little bit tight especially as it was my first semi-final in a Grand Slam but it’s just an amazing feeling to beat the number one player.
“It was tough conditions, it was a little heavy and humid but I guess I love to play long matches.”
Nishikori said that the key was to forget about the one-sided second set.
“He started to play much better, very consistent and more aggressive. I tried to forget about the second set and tried to concentrate again.”
The Florida-based star also praised the work of coach Michael Chang, a Grand Slam winner with the French Open title in 1989.
“He’s been helping me a lot. We’ve been working well so that’s why I’m here.”
He added: “I hope it’s big news in Japan. Even though it’s 4 o’clock in the morning I hope everybody’s up watching.”
Despite playing back-to-back five-setters over eight and half hours to get to the semi-final, 10th seed Nishikori showed no signs of fatigue, breaking for 2-1 in the opener.
The world No. 1 retrieved it immediately, but the Japanese star, pouncing on the Djokovic second serve, took the crucial next break for 4-3.
The set was wrapped up in 39 minutes on an oddly subdued but sweltering Arthur Ashe Stadium when the top seed netted a service return.
Djokovic, however, shrugged off his lethargy, breaking in the fourth and sixth games on his way to levelling the semi-final with a sixth ace securing the second set.
Nishikori, threatening to wilt in the heat, had to save four break points in an 11-minute third game of the third set which went to seven deuces.
He then conjured up a break for 5-3, courtesy of a backhand pass and a stylish forehand return winner off a 120mph first serve.
But he cracked when trying to serve out the set, his second double fault handing the break straight back to the Serb.
As the on-court temperatures shot up, Nishikori went 4-0 and 5-2 in the tiebreak and claimed the set when Djokovic went limply wide with a weary forehand.
Nishikori then turned the screw, breaking for 1-0 in the fourth set and fending off three break points in the next for 2-0.
And that was almost that.
Down and almost out, Djokovic was broken again in the ninth game when he sent a forehand long, a shot which rocketed Nishikori into the record books.
Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/07/more-sports/tennis/nishiko...