The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Nishikori makes it Japanese double
Former men’s finalist battles through after Osaka books last-four place
Kei Nishikori turned the tables on Marin Cilic to reach the US Open semi-finals for the third time after another dramatic encounter at Flushing Meadows.
The pair both reached their first grand slam final here in 2014, with Cilic going on to claim a straight-sets victory.
The Croatian has built on that success, reaching two more finals in the last two seasons, but Nishikori’s only similar run came in New York two years ago when he defeated Andy Murray to reach the semi-finals before losing to Stan Wawrinka.
This proved to be Nishikori’s day, though, as he ground out a 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 victory to mark a landmark moment for Japan after Naomi Osaka’s win over Lesia Tsurenko earlier in the day.
It is the first time in the Open era that Japan is represented in the semi-finals of both the main draws at the same grand slam.
Cilic looked to be in control of the match at a set and a break up but back came Nishikori to win the second set, and then the third on a tie-break after the Croatian wobbled on serve.
Cilic responded by taking the fourth but dropped serve early in the decider and his mood darkened, the 29-year-old arguing with the umpire and then slashing a ball wildly into the stands.
Nishikori has one of the best records in history in deciding sets. This was the 200th match in which he has been taken the distance and the 153rd time he has come out on top, including 18 out of 24 over five sets.
That made it all the more surprising that the 28-year-old allowed his advantage to slip, missing a break point that would have given him a 5-1 lead and then being pegged back to 4-4.
But Cilic was unable to hold his nerve serving to stay in the match and it was Nishikori who held his arms aloft after four hours and seven minutes.
Osaka needed just 57 minutes to defeat Tsurenko to race into her first grand slam semi-final.
In a meeting between two first-time slam quarter-finalists it was Osaka who produced much the better display, winning 6-1 6-1.
The 20-year-old Japanese-American has been earmarked as a future star for several years and made her big breakthrough earlier this season by winning the big WTA Tour event in Indian Wells.
But this has been her best run on the biggest stage and, after a real battle in the last round against fellow young gun Aryna Sabalenka, Osaka returned to her dominance of the first three matches.
She said: “It means a lot. I was freaking out inside. My entire body was shaking so I was really glad I was able to play well today.”
Osaka had lost just seven games in reaching the fourth round and was simply far too good for Tsurenko, who struggled badly in the heat in beating Marketa Vondrousova two days before and could not find anything like her best form here.
The heat was again intense and the Ukrainian, through to this stage for the first time in her 29th slam, could not find her first serve and hit 31 unforced errors compared to just 10 winners.
Osaka, who next faces either Madison Keys or Carla Suarez Navarro, is the first Japanese woman to reach the last four at a slam since Kimiko Date at Wimbledon 22 years ago.
Rafael Nadal admitted he was delighted, relieved – and sorry – after winning one of the great US Open night-session matches against Dominic Thiem in Wednesday’s matches.
Twenty-four hours after Roger Federer fell to John Millman, his old rival avoided following him out of the
tournament, but only just, completing a 0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) victory at 2.03am.
Ninth seed Thiem became the first player since Andy Roddick in 2004 to win a love set against Nadal in New York but the defending champion again dug deep to come out on top of a gruelling battle in more punishing humidity.
Nadal said: “It was physically demanding because the conditions were tough out there, too. And I played against a great opponent. He played a good match. Sorry for him. He’s a top guy.
Nadal next faces Juan Martin del Potro, who beat John Isner, in a rematch of last year’s semi-final.
Third seed Del Potro won 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in the strength-sapping heat.