Who needs rest? Not Kei Nishikori, apparently.
Nishikori, coming off a thrilling win over Milos Raonic that ended at 2:26 in the morning, outlasted Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-4 during quarterfinal action at the U.S. Open on Wednesday afternoon.
“I was a little bit tired yesterday, but today was almost…not 100 percent but close to feeling pretty good,” explained Nishikori, who is the first Japanese man in the U.S. Open semis since Ichiya Kumagae in 1918. “I always love to play five sets. I think I have good records for winning (decisive) third or fifth sets. It’s not like I love to play five sets, but I have a lot of confidence to play in the fifth. I get more concentration and my tennis is getting better playing in the fourth or fifth sets.”
“From outside he [looked] really dead,” Wawrinka said of Nishikori. “But we know on the court he can play. Even at the beginning he [looked] like he’s going to die on the court, but he’s there. Physically he’s there. Even at the end of the match. We were both quite tired in the fifth set. I [tried] not to show. I still think that I was the fresher on the court, but he [handled it] well. He was really going for his shot in the fifth set.”
Andy Murray went after his forehand early and often in the nightcap against Novak Djokovic, but it was not enough. In the end it was Djokovic who physically outlasted a somewhat hobbled Murray. The Scot’s back acted up during the third and fourth sets and Djokovic powered his way to a 7-6(1), 6-7(1), 6-2, 6-4 victory.
“It was very physical,” the top-seeded Serb assured. “I’m happy that I managed to pull it through physically in the end and to kind of stay strong, even though it was frustrating in moments. We always push each other to the limits.”
“I played well,” Murray reflected. “Especially the first couple of sets was some good tennis. I’d say definitely physically he was fresher, but towards the end I tried to hang in as best I could.”
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Couldn’t watch all of the Murray-Joker match…just too late, but did see last few games of Nishikori….dramatic, gut-check win. Can’t wait for Fed-Monfils tonight!