Nishikori was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2014.
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But he lost control of the match when a passing rain shower led to the new roof being brought over Arthur Ashe Stadium. It’s tough, you know.
Pliskova, who rallied to beat sixth-seeded Venus Williams in three sets Monday, has now won 10 straight matches, riding the momentum of a breakthrough title at Cincinnati.
Halep didn’t make it easy on Williams, who lost a set for the first time in five matches and dropped her serve for the first time in the tournament, twice in fact. If need be, Wawrinka could move further back to hit the return but also add air to his shots, as Nishikori struggles to generate pace above his shoulders.
“I think there’s a huge enjoyment in three-set matches, but I feel like you don’t get that appreciation until later”, Williams said. “Obviously I would have loved to have won but it wasn’t to be”.
It happened for a second time during a Murray break point, with umpire Marija Cicak ordering the point to be replayed.
‘I have not let anyone down.
“But I’m happy to be in the semi-finals”. This one goes pretty high on the list, too.
“It would be a living hell”, Williams said, drawing laughter.
As Halep can attest, though, Williams does not relinquish anything easily. Inexplicably, the quarterfinal between Nishikori and Murray turned early in the fourth set on a loud noise that sounded a lot like a gong. He recovered sufficiently to make the fifth set a compelling contest.
But this time, 2014 U.S. Open runner-up Nishikori came through. “It’s a little bit different than other grand slams”, he said. Essentially the opposite of Wimbledon.
The U.S. Tennis Association said Wednesday that a “digital audio sound processor” was at fault and would be replaced before the night session.
Murray had been favourite to claim his fourth grand slam title in Flushing Meadows but was beaten 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 by Kei Nishikori in the last eight.
A few drops of rain had been falling in the second set and at 3-3 play was stopped for 20 minutes while the roof was closed. He was also bothered by what looked like a moth or a butterfly on the court.
This was a rematch of their semifinal meeting at the Olympics last month in Brazil. Having won all of his matches in straight sets, the Frenchman impressed in his victory over Lucas Pouille and may turn out to be more of a challenge than one may think. He was on a 26-1 run, which included Wimbledon and the gold medal in Rio.
Sixth seed Nishikori will now face the victor 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 third round, Djokovic was up 4-2 in the first set when Mikhail Youzhny retired because of a back injury. Then Pliskova changed course, saying: “I mean, actually, I do believe it”. She routed unseeded Anastasija Sevastova 6-0, 6-2 in the semifinals and has lost one set in the tournament.
But, ultimately, external factors got the better of him. We were telling him, ‘Forget about it. Tied at 5-5 with Murray serving, Nishikori scored another break and then served out the match in the 12th game.
“There were many up and downs. I don’t know what’s the reason, but for sure they have to stop that”, said Nishikori.
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“I saw some opportunity to come in (to the net) today so I tried to be aggressive”.
