Kei Nishikori stunned Andy Murray to make the last four of the US Open in a pulsating quarterfinal clash Tuesday night.
Nishikori, 26, held his nerve in a breathtaking final set to move two move a step closer to repeating his final appearance two years ago at Flushing Meadows after a dramatic 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 comeback triumph in just under four hours.
In a match which featured 17 breaks of serve, Nishikori prevailed for only his second win in nine matches against the British world No 2.
Defeat brings a halt to Murray’s staggering run of form that’s seen him clinch a second Wimbledon title and an Olympic gold – also his second, over the past two months.
The Japanese superstar will now take on the winner of the clash between 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro or third seed and two-time Grand Slam winner, Stanislas Wawrinka.
Murray looked to be in control at two sets to one ahead and carving out a break point in the third game of the fourth when a loud gong-like sound burst from the malfunctioning public address system and a startled butterfly on the net called for a pause that made him lose his composure as he lost the next five games to an acrobatic Nishikori.
However, he rebooted and was soon up 5-4 in the decider but Nishikori, showing nerves of steel, held and took victory in the 12th game, burying a backhand in the net.
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