A weird noise during Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the U.S. Open led to Andy Murray’s downfall against Japan’s Kei Nishikori, as the No. 2 seed lost control of the match when a gong-like sound over the loudspeakers interrupted play.
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Japanese sixth seed Nishikori clinched a dramatic 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 comeback triumph in a shade under four hours against the Wimbledon and Olympic Games victor and 2012 US Open champion.
Murray’s extended discussions with Cicak and another official about the unusual episode came while he dropped 12 of 14 points. He was running away with the match against Nishikori when his concentration wavered slightly at the end of the second set.
“I lost my rhythm a little in the second set and Simona kept playing really well, going for her shots”, Williams said.
Tenth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova brushed aside Croatian upstart Ana Konjuh 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the US Open semi-finals, the first time she has reached the final four of a Grand Slam tennis event.
Nishikori will now face Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in the last four after he defeated Argentina’s Olympic silver medallist Juan Martin del Potro, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The other men’s semifinal Friday is No. 1 Novak Djokovic against No. 10 Gael Monfils. “But also he seems more focused at this time of his career”. “I lost my serve a couple of times from positions when I was up in the game”.
“I wasn’t at my best level today for sure, but she was just too good”.
“It was an unbelievable match for me, one of my toughest matches, mentally and physically against Juan Martin”, Wawrinka said.
A butterfly persistently fluttering around the net only added to Murray’s annoyance as the 2012 champion lost seven straight games. “I think it’s more loud and it’s more like, you know, big party on the court”.
He also spoke to a tournament supervisor about it, pleading his case and saying, “That’s not fair”. This is a great opportunity for me, to come in the semi-final here again.
The Japanese star clinched a dramatic 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 comeback triumph in a shade under four hours against the Wimbledon and Olympic champion. But he wouldn’t take another game. At 5-all, 30-all, Murray double-faulted to set up break point, and Nishikori converted by reaching for a stretch volley victor.
Murray was annoyed because when he had complained of a sound disturbance earlier in the match, the umpire said in such instances the players would play on.
The phantom noise emerged again later in the set and Murray’s mood was not helped when a startled butterfly flew around the court, causing great merriment when it obstinately clung to the net. He had reached a career best seven straight finals since April. “I fought as as hard as I could with what I had today”, said the world number two.
A shade over four hours earlier Nishikori nearly got off to a dream start, taking a 0-40 lead in the opening game before Murray came roaring back to hold serve.
It happened for a second time during a Murray break point, with umpire Marija Cicak ordering the point to be replayed.
“If someone had offered me the summer that I have had before Wimbledon, I probably would have signed for that”, said Murray.
“He started very well in the beginning, there were a lot of ups and downs in the match”.
The Swiss broke back in the seventh game and although Del Potro, whose career was nearly derailed by a series of wrist injuries, saved two set points in the tiebreaker, a rare forehand error gave up the set.
Del Potro secured a surprise win over Wawrinka in the second round of Wimbledon but there was to be no repeat as the Swiss completed a 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory as the clock ticked over to 01.30 in the NY morning.
A year ago in the US Open semifinals, Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a loss to unseeded Roberta Vinci of Italy.
In Thursday’s other semifinal, No. 2 Angelique Kerber plays two-time U.S. Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki.
Nishikori gathered himself after a light rain forced a closing of the roof at 3-3 in the second set that interrupted play for some 20 minutes and allowed him to meet with his team in the locker room. “Disappointed not to have won, but I’ve had a good run”.
Maybe that made a difference. Eventually, after saving all 12 break points she faced in that set, Halep grabbed it 6-4 on her fifth set point. I’m happy with the way I found solution in the third set to take advantage. Murray roared and punched the air as he went to the sideline.
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The three-time grand slam champion, however, was remaining upbeat despite his last-eight exit.
