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Kei Nishikori

US Open Kei Nishikori beats Novak Djokovic in the Semi Finals

Kei Nishikori stunned world number one Novak Djokovic at the US Open to become Japan’s first Grand Slam singles finalist. The 10th seed won 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 and will take on Roger Federer or Marin Cilic for the title on Monday. Nishikori, 24, coached by Michael Chang, responded superbly after losing the second set to claim the biggest win of his career. “It’s just an amazing feeling, beating the number one player,” said Nishikori. “I hope it’s big news in Japan. I feel the support from Japan. It’s 4 o’clock in the morning but I hope a lot of people are watching.”

open-master675Kei Nishikori who left Japan at 14 to train in Florida, after defeating top-seeded Novak Djokovic in four sets on Saturday at the U.S. Open. Credit Chang W. Lee/The New York Times.

As Kei Nishikori has kept fighting through imposing obstacles at this United States Open, a tournament at which he was not even sure to play, his coach Michael Chang has kept reminding him, “You’re not done yet.”

Clearly not. After scrapping his way into the semifinals with consecutive five-set upsets, Nishikori extended his one-man show of resilience by toppling the No. 1 seed, Novak Djokovic, to reach the U.S. Open final.

His 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory on a muggy Saturday afternoon made him the first man from Asia to reach a Grand Slam singles final.

“It’s, I don’t know, 4 o’clock in the morning,” Nishikori said afterward of the time in his homeland, Japan. “But I hope a lot of people are watching.”

Marin Cilic defeated Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, in a U.S. Open semifinal on Saturday.U.S. Open 2014: Roger Federer Is Ousted by Marin Cilic in SemifinalSEPT. 6, 2014. Kei Nishikori’s match against Novak Djokovic finished just after 4 a.m. in Japan.Tennis Fans Rejoice After Kei Nishikori’s Win Over Novak DjokovicSEPT. 6, 2014
A Japanese reporter said Kei Nishikori, right, was Hope for Japan, Decades After a Disturbing Loss SEPT. 5, 2014 Kei Nishikori reached the quarterfinals with his win over Milos Raonic.On Tennis: With Michael Chang Coaching, Kei Nishikori Reaches the U.S. Open QuarterfinalSEPT. 2, 2014. If they were not on Saturday, they will be soon. Nishikori, 24, who left home at 14 to train at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has long been a tennis star in his native country, winning an ATP Tour event for the first time in 2008, at age 18, and reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open that same year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/sports/tennis/kei-nishikori-reaches-us-open-final-beating-novak-djokovic.html?_r=0

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