Kei Nishikori Upsets Andy Murray by defeating at the US Open
Kei Nishikori from Japan jagged the biggest grand slam of the year winning his five-set upset of Andy Murray, the world number two champion in the U.S. Open quarter-finals.
Kei Nishikori, a 26-year old was exhausted against playing Stan Wawrinka, the third seed as 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows. Nishikori also accepted that it was tough playing number one, two and three in the finals. It is not easy, but Nishikori managed to win the last few matches a little easier.
Nishikori took to his positives from the Open and believed in his high caliber of playing tennis in the last few months. He said, ‘Beating Andy gave more confidence’.
This year grand slam ended for Murray in a brutal way in comparison to the French Open last year that he won straight six and is well-known in these marathon matches for his ruggedness.
Andy Murray had several chances to have a set and a break prior to few isolated showers. However, the 15- minute weather delay for both players gave a chance to consult their coaches, now it looks like Michael Chang, Nishikori’s coach could have encouraged him to become more aggressive. Since he went striking clean for everything he could that he came winning Murray’s second serves and used masterfully the drop shot as a surprise tactic.
Andy Murray claimed the third set with intensity moving ahead by 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 margin that it looked favorable to him. The plot was the same with Murray making the same strong start in the fourth set, but the bell before the quarter-final resulted in a break point at the fourth set start. This pushed Nishikori to meet the line judges and things changed claiming Nishikori as the winner.
The point needs a replay as Nishikori managed to come out and Murray endured a 30-minute frustration losing seven straight games.
The incident was the turning point but devastating ultimately 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 loss for Murray. This was unfortunately the first defeat of Andy Murray right from the time Ivan Lendl and Murray reforged in June their partnership and Ivan Lendl was watching him play.
Murray on the defeat put a brave face though it terminated Murray of his 2016 grand-slam season. He also said “I’m not disappointed,” and he said the weird noise interrupted his play in the fourth set calling for an early break. Murray also said, I did not let down anyone and fought to my best as I could.
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