ATP Premier Partner MORE STORIES; Marin Cilic blasts Kei Nishikori away to clinch US Open final and his first Grand Slam title in straight sets. "It was really tough conditions today, it felt a little bit heavy and humid," he added. Kei Nishikori beats world number one Novak Djokovic at the US Open to become Japan's first Grand Slam singles finalist. "Nishikori's coach is Michael Chang, who won the French Open in 1989.The knock on Nishikori has been his health. Up 4-3 and serving, Nishikori served three of his five match aces in the game, denying Djokovic an opportunity to get back into the match. He was too much in control of the game.
Despite two five-set matches coming into the semifinal, he seemed fresh and aggressive on the court. 10 Nishikori emerges from his first Grand Slam semifinal to Monday's US Open final after a 6-4, 1-6, 6-6 (4), 6-3 win over Djokovic. That's it. With the win, he is the first Asian-born man to reach a Grand Slam final. "I think I played good tennis to [make sure he did] not play his tennis," said Nishikori. The Japanese player sped up the pace on this one, winning in 2 hours, 52 minutes as opposed to another epic five-setter.The Serbian has been the world No. He kept pressuring Djokovic and ultimately denied him a fifth straight US Open final.Nishikori won the first set and then lost the second. Year Scores You know, he has gotten to another level, and I'm sure that people will praise him. "A lot of unforced errors, a lot of short balls. 10 Nishikori emerges from his first Grand Slam semifinal to Monday's US Open final after a 6-4, 1-6, 6-6 (4), 6-3 win over Djokovic. Injuries here and there have kept him from climbing higher in the rankings or going deeper into Grand Slams. "My game today was not even close to what I wanted it to be," Djokovic said.Nishikori was the first Japanese man to reach a US Open semifinal since Ichiya Kumagae in 1918. "Few expected Nishikori, making his Grand Slam semi-final debut, to have the stamina to test Djokovic after his epic wins over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka in previous rounds.The Japanese player made the better start though, breaking twice to take the first set against a strangely flat Djokovic, "This was an extraordinary double for the underdog. "I tried to work on my body a lot this year," Nishikori said.

Watch the full match on the US Open YouTube channel.

Category "I think he just played better in these conditions than I did.

You know, I wasn't in the balance. I feel the support from Japan.
I just wasn't myself."



Cilic, full of the belief instilled in him by coach Goran Ivanisevic, hit the ball cleanly and powerfully and - unlike Monfils - gave Federer no chance to launch a comeback at the end of an unforgettable day. "I guess I like long matches. Latest Official tennis titles and finals records of Kei Nishikori on the ATP Tour for singles and doubles. Instead, with fuel levels running low after two consecutive five set matches, he went on the attack - thrillingly and brilliantly - and Djokovic couldn't respond in the way we are used to.

"Other than that second set my game today was not even close to what I wanted it to be," said Djokovic. "The training has helped, but ultimately he may be able to credit the rest he got before coming to New York.

I was start sliding little more.

"It was really tough conditions today, it felt a little bit heavy and humid," he added.

"Well, this is definitely huge for Japan," Djokovic said. Japan's Kei Nishikora and Croatia's Marin Cilic pulled huge upsets on Saturday, and will face each other in the U.S. Open final on Monday. "Few expected Nishikori, making his Grand Slam semi-final debut, to have the stamina to test Djokovic after his epic wins over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka in previous rounds.The Japanese player made the better start though, breaking twice to take the first set against a strangely flat Djokovic, "This was an extraordinary double for the underdog.

"Even last year, too. Instead, with fuel levels running low after two consecutive five set matches, he went on the attack - thrillingly and brilliantly - and Djokovic couldn't respond in the way we are used to.

"Nishikori had needed 10 sets and more than eight hours to win his previous two matches, but produced a remarkable performance as temperatures hit 36C and humidity soared. “He pushed me around.