Nishikori reaches U.S. Open final, beats No. 1 seed Djokovic
NEW YORK -- Kei Nishikori upset top-ranked Novak Djokovic6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Saturday.
This is one of those matches where observers will be split on assigning blame and credit. The No. 1 seed looked like the player who lost twice on hard courts this summer -- not the Wimbledon champ from July, or the player who beat Andy Murray on Wednesday night. And on the other hand, Nishikori’s performance was sensational and poised. He basically out Djokovic-edDjokovic, playing with more energy and dictating steady, effective play to reach his first Grand Slam final.
The No. 10 seed Nishikori had played 10 sets in his previous two matches, against Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka, but he had firm belief in his fitness and looked like the more rested player on the court compared to Djokovic.
Offbeat photos from the 2014 U.S. Open
Gael Monfils
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic
Darron Cummings/AP
Pablo Cuevas
Elsa/Getty Images
Serena Williams
Chris Trotman/Getty Images
Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Roger Federer
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
Kei Nishikori
Elsa/Getty Images
Alize Cornet
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Marinko Matosevic and Michael Jordan
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Kimiko Date-Krumm
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Chris Trotman/Getty Images
Ekaterina Makarova
John Minchillo/AP
Fabio Fognini
John Minchillo/AP
Aleksandra Krunic
Frank Franklin
Taylor Townsend
Darron Cummings/AP
Gwen Stefani
John Minchillo
Caroline Wozniacki
Kathy Willens/AP
Andy Murray
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Venus Williams
Elise Amendola/AP{
Maria Sharapova
Kathy Willens/AP
Katie Boulter
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Fan under an umbrella
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Gael Monfils
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Joe Jonas
Uri Schanker/GC Images
Tomas Berdych
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Caroline Wozniacki
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
Sara Errani
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Fans
Matt Rourke/AP
Bob and Mike Bryan
Al Bello/Getty Images
Flavia Pennetta
Darron Cummings/AP
Gael Monfils
Mike Groll/AP
Jay Pharoh and model Heidi Klum
Al Bello/Getty Images
Kei Nishikori
Mike Groll/AP
Marin Cilic
Julio Cortez/AP
Mike Bryan
Julio Cortez/AP
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Elise Amendola/AP
Roger Federer
Elsa/Getty Images
Victoria Azarenka
Mike Groll/AP
So often in the last 10 years during key matches against the Big Four, opponents have played well in patches, but wilted at the crucial moments on the big stage. In this case, Nishikori struck first, winning the first set. He played much better in the critical third-set tiebreaker and was unflustered when he got near the finish line.
Along with Raonic and others, Nishikori is clearly the ATP’s generation next. While the other two reached the Wimbledon semifinals but fell short, Nishikori met the moment at the U.S. Open on Saturday, earning himself a victory that made him the first man from Asia to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
As I write this, the Marin Cilic-Roger Federer match has yet to begin. We don’t know Nishikori’s opponent yet, but he is ranked higher than Cilic and he has already beaten Federer twice, including once on U.S. hard courts. He’ll have 48 hours to recover. Fans will love the underdog in the final match, and if his opponent is Federer, you have to think based on his play that he will have a good chance.
Update: Cilic beat Federer in straight sets.
