This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/06/kei-nishikori-stuns-novak-djokovic-to-reach-us-open-final-in-four-sets
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kei Nishikori stuns Novak Djokovic to reach US Open final in four sets | Kei Nishikori stuns Novak Djokovic to reach US Open final in four sets |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| As if it were written, Kei Nishikori beat Novak Djokovic in four sets and a rumbling thunderstorm by mere minutes to reach the final of the 2014 US Open, and the No10 seed sensed that this might be his time to make a definitive statement in his sport. | As if it were written, Kei Nishikori beat Novak Djokovic in four sets and a rumbling thunderstorm by mere minutes to reach the final of the 2014 US Open, and the No10 seed sensed that this might be his time to make a definitive statement in his sport. |
| The 24-year-old Japanese player did to Djokovic in the heat of the day what Andy Murray could not do to him in the still of the night over the same distance in the quarters – so he has much to be proud of. | The 24-year-old Japanese player did to Djokovic in the heat of the day what Andy Murray could not do to him in the still of the night over the same distance in the quarters – so he has much to be proud of. |
| Nishikori has not won the title yet. After beating and beasting Djokovic in just under three hours, he could not even guess who his opponent would be when he left the sweltering heat of Flushing Meadows behind him late on Saturday afternoon, heading for his hotel as heavy rain swept New York and delayed the start of the second semi-final between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic. | Nishikori has not won the title yet. After beating and beasting Djokovic in just under three hours, he could not even guess who his opponent would be when he left the sweltering heat of Flushing Meadows behind him late on Saturday afternoon, heading for his hotel as heavy rain swept New York and delayed the start of the second semi-final between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic. |
| But Nishikori knows one thing: history is on his racket. If he takes his chances, as he has done in his past three matches – and never with more conviction than when outlasting the world No 1 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 – he can become the first Asian man in the Open era to win a grand slam title. He is already the first to reach a final, the first to reach a semi-final. This is a pleasing curve for him, and he said later: “I hope they were staying up to watch me, even though it was four o’clock in the morning.” | But Nishikori knows one thing: history is on his racket. If he takes his chances, as he has done in his past three matches – and never with more conviction than when outlasting the world No 1 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 – he can become the first Asian man in the Open era to win a grand slam title. He is already the first to reach a final, the first to reach a semi-final. This is a pleasing curve for him, and he said later: “I hope they were staying up to watch me, even though it was four o’clock in the morning.” |
| They surely were, and in good numbers. If he wins the final, there might be a few ratings records broken in Japan. | They surely were, and in good numbers. If he wins the final, there might be a few ratings records broken in Japan. |
| He revealed he did not think he would even be in the tournament after he had surgery for the removal of a cyst in August. “I only started playing points a few days ago before the tournament,” he said. “I didn’t even know if I would come to New York. I wasn’t expecting anything actually. But, after playing the first match and second match, I got more confidence on my foot and [played without pain]. I was starting to slide a little more. But my tennis was there already.” | He revealed he did not think he would even be in the tournament after he had surgery for the removal of a cyst in August. “I only started playing points a few days ago before the tournament,” he said. “I didn’t even know if I would come to New York. I wasn’t expecting anything actually. But, after playing the first match and second match, I got more confidence on my foot and [played without pain]. I was starting to slide a little more. But my tennis was there already.” |
| He claimed to have no preference for an opponent in the final, reflecting confidence that has grown since he broke into the top 10 for the first time in the summer – although he admitted he did not relish the prospect of a fifth set against Djokovic. “I believed if it went to a fifth set I didn’t think I could run. I’m very happy to finish in four sets.” | He claimed to have no preference for an opponent in the final, reflecting confidence that has grown since he broke into the top 10 for the first time in the summer – although he admitted he did not relish the prospect of a fifth set against Djokovic. “I believed if it went to a fifth set I didn’t think I could run. I’m very happy to finish in four sets.” |
| He might be the fresher of the finalists, too – even though getting from the fourth round to the final has demanded 14 tough sets from him. He will be the one with the quality tennis in the bank, having completed a hat-trick of wins over the fifth seed, Milos Raonic, the third seed, Stanislas Wawrinka and now Djokovic, who was so drained and desolate afterwards that he hinted this may prove to be his last match of the year. | He might be the fresher of the finalists, too – even though getting from the fourth round to the final has demanded 14 tough sets from him. He will be the one with the quality tennis in the bank, having completed a hat-trick of wins over the fifth seed, Milos Raonic, the third seed, Stanislas Wawrinka and now Djokovic, who was so drained and desolate afterwards that he hinted this may prove to be his last match of the year. |
| He has been asked many times if his marriage to Jelena Ristic after winning Wimbledon and the pending arrival of their first child had distracted him, and was firm in his protestation to the contrary. “I’m in touch with my wife. Of course I am being part of her pregnancy. | |
| “It’s normal. But it’s no different for me in terms of preparing for the match and for the tournament. I had all my dedication, everything directed to this US Open. I tried to give my best and I did. Now my best today was not where I wanted it to be.” | “It’s normal. But it’s no different for me in terms of preparing for the match and for the tournament. I had all my dedication, everything directed to this US Open. I tried to give my best and I did. Now my best today was not where I wanted it to be.” |
| However he seemed strangely uncertain in defeat, at first refusing to confirm that he would play again this year, expressing doubt about taking part in Serbia’s Davis Cup tie against India next week, then declaring he had signed for the Indian Premier League of Tennis, due to start in Dubai in December – if it starts at all. | However he seemed strangely uncertain in defeat, at first refusing to confirm that he would play again this year, expressing doubt about taking part in Serbia’s Davis Cup tie against India next week, then declaring he had signed for the Indian Premier League of Tennis, due to start in Dubai in December – if it starts at all. |
| “I don’t know,” Djokovic said of his remaining schedule. “It’s too early. I don’t know yet. Just got off the court. I don’t know.” | “I don’t know,” Djokovic said of his remaining schedule. “It’s too early. I don’t know yet. Just got off the court. I don’t know.” |
| So Nishikori could not ask for more convincing evidence that he deserves to be in this company than reducing a great player to such public despond and confusion. The 10th seed surely will hope that his growing maturity on court, allied to kind scheduling on the second Saturday of the tournament, will sustain his challenge in Monday’s final. He played some blindingly audacious tennis off the ground, although his serve was unreliable at key moments. | So Nishikori could not ask for more convincing evidence that he deserves to be in this company than reducing a great player to such public despond and confusion. The 10th seed surely will hope that his growing maturity on court, allied to kind scheduling on the second Saturday of the tournament, will sustain his challenge in Monday’s final. He played some blindingly audacious tennis off the ground, although his serve was unreliable at key moments. |
| Djokovic looked to have his measure when he recovered from a close first set – the seventh semi-final in a row here when he has given his opponent the lead – to batter Nishikori for the loss of a single game in half an hour in the second. Thereafter it was a swaying struggle. However, after holding off the Serb’s charge in the tie-break from 0-4 down, Nishikori was rejuvenated in the fourth set, breaking early and staying strong to the end. | Djokovic looked to have his measure when he recovered from a close first set – the seventh semi-final in a row here when he has given his opponent the lead – to batter Nishikori for the loss of a single game in half an hour in the second. Thereafter it was a swaying struggle. However, after holding off the Serb’s charge in the tie-break from 0-4 down, Nishikori was rejuvenated in the fourth set, breaking early and staying strong to the end. |
| Djokovic made no excuses – because there were none. He was the fresher coming into the match by three and a half hours, the same margin he held over Murray before seeing him off in four sets in the quarter-finals. | Djokovic made no excuses – because there were none. He was the fresher coming into the match by three and a half hours, the same margin he held over Murray before seeing him off in four sets in the quarter-finals. |
| And the Serb rightly pointed out that the debilitating heat and humidity were the same for both of them. “It was not easy to play in these conditions,” he said, “but also he had more hours spent on the court. So it’s no excuse. | And the Serb rightly pointed out that the debilitating heat and humidity were the same for both of them. “It was not easy to play in these conditions,” he said, “but also he had more hours spent on the court. So it’s no excuse. |
| “I expected him to be able to play another five-setter because he had two days off. He hasn’t played before this tournament, so he had a big break. He could prepare himself for this tournament. He played some great tennis. I congratulate him for the effort. He was the better player today. | “I expected him to be able to play another five-setter because he had two days off. He hasn’t played before this tournament, so he had a big break. He could prepare himself for this tournament. He played some great tennis. I congratulate him for the effort. He was the better player today. |
| “I just wasn’t managing to go through the ball in the court. I wasn’t in the balance. There were a lot of unforced errors [35]. Even when the ball gets back to his part of the court it’s pretty short; he takes advantage of it. On the other side I didn’t.” | “I just wasn’t managing to go through the ball in the court. I wasn’t in the balance. There were a lot of unforced errors [35]. Even when the ball gets back to his part of the court it’s pretty short; he takes advantage of it. On the other side I didn’t.” |
| Asked where he saw improvements in a player who a year ago was prone to regular injury and disappointment in big matches, Djokovic said: “He wasn’t using the forehand as well as he does now. His backhand is very solid, one of the best double-handed backhands from all over the court, really aggressive. He’s very quick, so he gets a lot of balls back, uses every short ball to attack. I think now he’s an all-around player.” | Asked where he saw improvements in a player who a year ago was prone to regular injury and disappointment in big matches, Djokovic said: “He wasn’t using the forehand as well as he does now. His backhand is very solid, one of the best double-handed backhands from all over the court, really aggressive. He’s very quick, so he gets a lot of balls back, uses every short ball to attack. I think now he’s an all-around player.” |