Thursday 8 September 2016 13:07, UK
British World No 2 Andy Murray bowed out of the US Open after being beaten in five sets by Kei Nishikori at Flushing Meadows.
The 2014 runner-up from Japan edged past this year's Wimbledon and Olympic champion 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 in just under four hours of drama on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"It was so exciting on the court but I tried to stay calm. It was really tough," said Nishikori after reaching only his second Slam semi-final where he will play Stan Warinka who beat Juan Martin del Potro.
"He's a great returner, there were lots of up and downs. I didn't start well."
In a match littered with service breaks - 17 in all - Nishikori prevailed for only his second win in eight matches against the world No 2.
A decisive moment came at the start of the fourth set when Murray held two break points for a 2-1 lead, but Nishikori battled back to win the game from 15-40 down after a loud gong-like sound burst from the malfunctioning public address system forced Umpire Marija Cicak ordered the point to be replayed much to the irritation of the Briton who lost his composure.
He then embarked on a run of seven straight games during which he broke the Scot three times in a row.
Murray admitted that he briefly lost his composure which opened the door for 2014 runner-up Nishikori who has now beaten top 10 players five times at the US Open.
"Definitely I would say to 4-1 I didn't play a good game after I got out of the change of ends, and then he held pretty comfortably the next game," said the Briton.
"But after that, I don't think so. I lost my serve a couple of times from positions when I was up in the game."
Nishikori broke for 1-0 in the deciding set and backed it up for 2-0 before Murray stopped an eight-game losing streak to hold.
The 29-year-old was not going down without a fight, as he broke back again to lead 5-4. Yet Nishikori was not to be denied, as he broke his opponent for a fifth time in eight service games.
Serving for the match, Nishikori did not waver as a Murray backhand dropped into the net and confirmed defeat after three hours and 58 minutes.
Nishikori had gone into the match having lost seven of his eight meetings with Murray but reeled off a string of stunning winners from the baseline which his opponent was unable to counter.
His flashing forehand proved his biggest weapon, as he ended Murray's challenge for a second US Open title.
Since winning at Flushing Meadows in 2012, Murray has failed to reach the semi-finals in three subsequent attempts and he must now find a way of regaining his focus ahead of next week's Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina.
Sixth seed Nishikori will now face the winner of the match between unseeded former champion Juan Martin del Potro and third-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka for a place in the Sunday's final.
In the end, the match appeared to be one battle too many for a visibly weary Murray whose exploits this season have seen him claim a third Grand Slam title and a successful defence of his Olympic crown in Rio.
Defeat, however, ended his bid to become just the fourth man to make the finals of all four majors in the same season.
"I tried my best. I fought as hard as I could with what I had today. I didn't let anyone down. Certainly not myself," said Murray.
"I pushed myself as hard as I could over the last few months, and I'm very proud of how I have done.
"If someone had offered me the summer that I have had before Wimbledon, I probably would have signed for that."
