As the clock ticked towards three hours and 32 minutes of energy-sapping battle, Andy Murray slapped the ball into the net for one final time and trudged off court.
The British No 1 was physically and emotionally spent, unable to stem the tide coming from the other end of the Arthur Ashe stadium as Novak Djokovic eventually sealed his place in Saturday’s semi-final with a 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 triumph over his old adversary.
But that doesn’t even begin to tell the story of what was at times remarkable fare, even by the standard of these two protagonists of eye-wateringly physical duels.
“We both gave our best,” Djokovic said. “At times the tennis was not that nice, we made a lot of unforced errors, but it was due to the very physical battle in the opening 2½ sets.
“I didn’t expect any less, knowing I was going to face Andy. The last five times we played, it was always over three or four hours. I’m very glad to get through to another semi-final.”
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It was no surprise to see Djokovic getting stronger as the match wore on into the night but towards the end it was disconcerting to see Murray struggle so badly, his body stiffening, ensuring that his movement was severely affected.
This certainly was not a purist’s dream - Murray hit 65 unforced errors to Djokovic’s 48 while the tally of winners was won by the Scot 47 to 46.
And when one considers that the world No 9 took a paltry 25 per cent of break-point chances presented to him while the Serb dispatched 70 per cent, perhaps it is no wonder he will be heading home to London and his beloved dogs some time soon. Yet it was engrossing until the bitter denouement.
“Our matches are so physical and this was the same,” Djokovic said. “He has become a top player over the last few years and is a great rival. I knew he would go for his shots but I am pleased I managed to stay fit until the end.“
With Nishikori taking Stanislas Wawrinka, the Australian Open champion, to five gruelling sets before the Japanese won through to his first grand-slam semi-final, these two tennis warriors did not take to the stage until almost 10pm local time. It was, however, certainly worth the wait. A quite brilliant first set ebbed this way and that.
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Murray began proceedings with a sumptuous backhand winner on the first point and managed to grab an early break to shock Djokovic into action. And how the world No 1 responded, reeling off three games in a row to take a 4-1 lead.
With two of arguably the best returners the game has yet seen, it was paramount to serve strongly yet the Scot’s winning points percentage on his first serve was below 50 per cent - in other words, not good enough.
He had to be more aggressive while targeting Djokovic’s backhand. Murray began to claw his way back in, finally holding at the third attempt and when the Serb slapped into the net in the very next game, there was parity.
At 4-4, these two old sparring partners produced one of the finest games this cavernous arena has seen. Two superb rallies, the second lasting 29 shots, ended with Murray striking a winner and, like Djokovic at the end of the previous point, urged the New York crowd to get right behind him with a fist pump and a loud “come on”.
When a booming 129mph ace from the British No 1 sent the set into a tie-break, this epic, resembling two old heavyweights going toe to toe, was in the balance. In the blink of an eye though, Djokovic was 5-1 up and, soon enough, a set to the good.
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Murray’s response now was key. What transpired was quite remarkable. Again he fell a break down but broke back to lead 4-3, putting Djokovic on the back foot with the ferocity of his forehands.
For a scintillating 40 minutes, Murray was the aggressor, striking the ball with breathtaking consistency with Djokovic having no answer to the flat, vicious strikes. Superb battler that he is, the world No 1 still managed to take it to another tie-break, yet the momentum was with Murray, who levelled the match after sealing the set 7-1.
The Scot was to pay for the effort of that spell at the end of the second set, however. “Nothing in my legs,” he shouted to his box, his energy levels running close to empty. It was not long before Djokovic was two breaks up and coasting. Murray had his moments - he had two break points in the fifth game of the third set having been broken the game before, but such was the physical nature of the match that the Briton was beginning to struggle.
Murray, up until that point, had been broken twice in all three sets. That he was still in the contest was testament to his determination but it became noticeable in the fourth set how the movement of the 2012 US Open champion had deserted him. He looked as if he was treading on glass with every step.
Somehow he was clinging on at 3-3 but was barely able to move and at 4-3 the trainer came on to hand the 27-year-old a heat-pack, seemingly for his lower back.
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It was not hot here. Indeed, the conditions were perfect for night tennis, so it was clear that Murray is yet to show he can go the distance after back surgery last year.
But whatever his travails, no-one could ever accuse him of throwing in the towel. Serving to stay in the tournament at 15-40, he hit into the net and was finally down and out.