The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAndy Murray’s hopes of winning a second US Open title are over, as the Brit was edged out in a dramatic 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 defeat to Kei Nishikori. With both players sharing the first two sets, the world number two appeared to have regained control when he took the third but the Japanese player battled back to force a decider. Even though Murray recovered twice from a break down in the fifth set, Nishikori struck again with a late break before sealing the upset to secure his place in the semi-finals.
In the opening set, Nishikori threatened to make a quick start and his deep groundstrokes set up break points in the first game of the match, but Murray survived to hold his serve. However, at 2-1, Nishikori was soon under pressure from his opponent’s blistering returns and as a result the world number two seized the break with another fierce second serve return that the Japanese player couldn’t handle. Murray consolidated the break and continued dismantling Nishikori’s serve with powerful hitting in the following game, to claim another break for a commanding 5-1 lead. The Japanese player simply had no answer to Murray’s dominant form, as the Brit easily closed out an emphatic set of tennis to take the lead.
As the second set unfolded, both players held serve comfortably initially, despite a brief rain delay. But, at 2-2, Murray’s deep shot-making and solid tennis in the baseline rallies forced his opponent into producing an error strewn game, which gifted the Brit the break for a 3-2 lead. However, the world number two was unable to consolidate it as Nishikori surprisingly hit back immediately to retrieve the break back, before overcoming another brief rain delay to move 4-3 ahead. With the roof now closed, the Japanese player was seemingly growing in confidence and at 5-4 up, Nishikori outlasted Murray in an extended rally to earn the set and level the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Murray made the perfect start and swatted a forehand directly at his opponent at the net, to break Nishikori in the opening game of the set. But, the Japanese player fought back in the following game and drilled a powerful backhand to break back, before easily holding serve for a 2-1 lead. Murray though did well to keep his opponent at bay, and eventually at 3-3 the Brit capitalised on an erratic display from Nishikori to break again. However, Nishikori still refused to lie down and even though Murray held game points for a 5-3 lead, the world number two allowed the Japanese player to claw his way back into the game before the Brit conceded his serve. But, Nishikori was still unable to manage his unforced errors and as a result, Murray was gifted yet another break. This time, the world number two maintained his focus and produced a series of accurate serves to clinch what was a very topsy-turvy set, as Murray regained the upper hand in the match.
The fourth set saw Murray look to build on his momentum and he held break points at 2-1, but Nishikori saved the first before a noise from the sound system interrupted play on the second break point, which eventually allowed the Japanese player to also save that break point on a replay, much to Murray’s frustration. Nishikori survived to level the scoreline at 2-2, whilst the Brit continued to argue during the changeover with the umpire and referee about the decision to replay the point. However, with Murray losing focus on the match, Nishikori maintained his concentration and a netted groundstroke from his opponent gave the former finalist a crucial break for a 3-1 lead, as Murray was still unsettled by the incident. Nishikori continued to capitalise on the momentum and sustained his high level to consolidate the break, before striking again with more aggressive tennis to stretch his lead to 5-1. The Japanese player was left serving for the set and he easily closed it out, to take the match to a decider.
In the fifth set, Nishikori maintained his sparkling form early on to break Murray in the first game of the set, before holding his serve by attacking the net brilliantly to open up a 2-0 lead. But, Murray eventually battled back and an erratic game from his opponent ensured the Brit would level the scoreline at 2-2. However, despite holding game points, Murray was forced to deuce and an untimely double fault presented Nishikori with a break point, which the Japanese player converted with a scintillating backhand winner down the line to go ahead 3-2 with the break. Despite the world number two battling hard in the following game, Nishikori just managed to consolidate the break to establish a 4-2 margin. But, still Murray refused to lie down and the Brit reduced the deficit to 4-3, before recovering from 40-0 down on his opponent’s serve to eventually break back, as Nishikori’s net play was starting to falter. Both players then held their next service games with ease to tie the scoreline at 5-5, but in the eleventh game, Murray committed a double fault to hand his opponent a break point and Nishikori’s tactics of drop shots and net forays paid off once more, as the Japanese player somehow stretched enough to pick up and return Murray’s dipping passing shot for an incredible winner, to claim the decisive break. Now serving for the match, Nishikori held his nerve and the former finalist clinched the win when Murray netted a backhand, to complete a stunning and hard fought victory.
Nishikori will face Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals, as the Swiss defeated a resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-2.
In the other men’s quarter-finals, defending champion Novak Djokovic benefitted from another withdrawal as the world number one was leading 6-3 6-2 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga when the Frenchman was forced to retire with a knee injury. Djokovic will meet Gael Monfils for a place in the finals, as Monfils saw off Rafael Nadal’s tired conqueror Lucas Pouille in straight sets.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams prevailed 6-2 4-6 6-3 in a battle against Simona Halep, and the world number one will meet Karolina Pliskova next, as the Czech eased past Ana Konjuh 6-2 6-2. Also, Caroline Wozniacki beat an injury-hampered Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets to set up a semi-final clash against Angelique Kerber, as the German secured a 7-5 6-0 win over last year’s finalist Roberta Vinci.
