Nishikori ousts Murray after noisy interruption
NEW YORK — Andy Murray lost his way, seven consecutive games and, eventually, his riveting fiveset U.S. Open quarterfinal against Kei Nishikori after a loud noise from a malfunctioning sound system interrupted a key point, resulting in a do-over.
Whether or not the gong-like sound, and chair umpire Marija Cicak’s let ruling, was the reason Nishikori wound up coming back to win 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 on Wednesday, it surely will be what’s most remembered about the back-andforth, four-hour match.
After all, Murray’s extended discussions with Cicak and another official about the unusual episode came during a stretch in which he dropped 12 of 14 points.
He went from a lead of two sets to one, plus a break point at 1-all, to ceding the fourth set and trailing 2-0 in the fifth.
“I could have won the match for sure,” said Murray, the No. 2 seed and 2012 U.S. Open champion. Not used as excuse
Murray acknowledged a brief dip in play but preferred to focus on other reasons for allowing the sixthseeded Nishikori to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time since he was the Open runner-up two years ago.
“I broke serve enough times,” Murray said. “I just didn’t hold serve enough. That was the difference.” Perhaps. But Murray complained about the ruling right away, gave away the next three points to lose the game, then brought it up again with Cicak at the ensuing changeover, saying something similar had happened earlier and play had continued.
“Exactly the same thing,” Murray exclaimed. “And I told you.”
He also spoke to a tournament supervisor about it, pleading his case and saying, “That’s not fair.”
That same type of noise came from the speakers again at 4-1 in the fourth set. It also happened during a women’s match Monday night.
The U.S. Tennis Association said Wednesday that a “digital audio sound processor” was at fault and would be replaced before the night session.
Despite all the fuss, Murray went ahead 5-4 in the fifth. But he wouldn’t take another game. At 5-all, 30all, Murray double-faulted to set up break point, and Nishikori converted by reaching for a stretch volley winner.
Murray slammed his racket against the net and cursed. Soon enough, his career-best run of reaching seven straight tournament finals was done.
“I would have loved to have gone further,” Murray said, “but it wasn’t to be.”
He had won 26 of his previous 27 matches, including a second Wimbledon championship and a second Olympic gold medal, beating Nishikori in straight sets in the semifinals at Rio de Janeiro.
This time, Nishikori came through.
“It was too exciting on the court, but I tried to stay calm,” he said. “It was really tough to stay calm . ... There were many ups and downs.” Serena wins three-setter
In the women’s quarterfinals, Serena Williams was broken for the first time in the tournament, and lost a set for the first time, too, but eventually got past No. 5 Simona Halep 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
On Thursday, Williams faces 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who reached the first major semifinal of her career by eliminating the 18-year-old Konjuh 6-2, 6-2. The other women’s semifinal is No. 2 Angelique Kerber vs. Caroline Wozniacki.
Nishikori will face the winner of Wednesday night’s quarterfinal between 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro and No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka. The other men’s semifinal Friday is No. 1 Novak Djokovic against No. 10 Gael Monfils.