Andy Murray, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, slams his racquet in disgust during his five-set loss to Kei Nishikori in Wedneday’s quarterfinals.
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The Japanese sixth seed came away a 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 victor over world number two Murray at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday. Things changed drastically compared to the opening set, as Nishikori was the one who got the most from his serve while Murray jumped into the problems with his second, taking only 45% of the points behind it.
Not that Murray was giving any rest to Nishikori, the 2014 Open runner-up who had beaten Murray only once in eight previous meetings.
The 29-year-old’s argument centred on the sound occurring once before in the contest but he claimed play had previously been allowed to continue. “I fought as hard as I could with what I had today”, said Murray.
“Wayne McKewen told me that it happened four times during the match that the speakers had gone off like that”.
“Did it affect me?”
“After rain delay I think I improve little bit with my coach, and I tried to change a little bit my tennis and start working a little bit better”, added Nishikori. I didn’t quite start well and lost 6-1. Laws of tennis gravity repeatedly were violated, with game leads of 40-0 on serve, or 0-40 when receiving, regularly disappearing in a rush of comebacks or missed opportunities. “That was the difference”.
But back came Nishikori, stunning his rival to break again for 3-2 before holding for 4-2 as both men thrilled with a series of big hits, subtle touches and exhausting athleticism.
Murray argued, but kept his cool. Murray was broken nine times over the whole match, having broken Nishikori on eight occasions.
“Why that didn’t happen today I don’t know”. Obviously I would have loved to have won, but I have had a good run every match.
“It was one of my toughest matches mentally and physically”.
“He’s a great returner, there were lots of up and downs. You know, if someone had offered me the summer that I have had before Wimbledon, I probably would have signed for that”.
The three-time major champion twice broke back in a thrilling decider but was unable to escape a third time. “I think I was too focused today, so I couldn’t really have chance to see my opponents. Certainly not myself. I pushed myself as hard as I could over the last few months and I’m very proud of how I have done”.
He was the one who usually made the first strike in the rallies or trying to shift the point with a net rushing, and it was paying off, as Murray couldn’t harm him from the position way behind the baseline.
“Kei will be feeling it, as well as a lot of the players”. But despite the nerves that gripped him in his chances to win the match, his silent resilience to respond and recover from countless dire situations endured.
The world number two led their head to head 7-1 but was unable to maintain his advantages at a set and a break up and when leading two sets to one as the Brit failed to reach the final of a Grand Slam for the first time this year.
“I was surprised and I was still waiting even in the first set; even in the second set I was still waiting – (thinking) some complications going to come”, Pliskova said. “For sure they have to stop [the point]”.
“The TIU will assess, make a judgement and take appropriate action on the alert information received and obtained for the first round singles match between Vitalia Diatchenko and Timea Bacsinszky played at the US Open on 30th August”, a spokesman said in a statement released to AFP.
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“To be honest, I don’t care at what time it came”.
