Nishikori upsets Murray to reach U.S. Open semi-finals

[September 07, 2016]    By Larry Fine
 
 NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japan's Kei Nishikori overcame second seed Andy Murray for a grueling 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 victory on Wednesday to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals.

Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates after recording match point against Andy Murray of Great Britain on day ten of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Nishikori, who became the first Asian man to reach a grand slam final when he finished runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Open, broke the Scotsman in the 11th game of the fifth set with a brilliant reflex volley and served out to complete the comeback triumph.

The upset ended a stellar run by Murray that had taken him to seven successive finals, including victories at Wimbledon, the Rio Olympics, Queen's Club and Rome.

The sixth-seeded Nishikori will meet either double grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka or 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the last four at Flushing Meadows.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

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