FOR the first time since the 2005 Australian Open, a men’s Grand Slam singles final will not feature one of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. Shockwaves rippled throughout Flushing Meadows and the men’s game after Djokovic and Federer — the top two seeds — fell respectively to Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic in last night’s US Open semi-finals.
Nishikori, the only Japanese player to be ranked in the top 10, also became the first male player from his country to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open era with his victory over the the world No 1. The 24-year-old won 6-4 1-6 7-6 6-3 in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory and said afterwards: “It’s just an amazing feeling beating the No 1 player. I hope it’s big news in Japan. It’s four in the morning and I hope people are watching.”
Djokovic, the 2011 champion in New York, was playing in his eighth successive US Open semi-final and bidding for a sixth final, his 15th overall at the majors. The top seed was also looking to reach his third Grand Slam final of 2014.
Cilic’s defeat of Federer was no less a surprise. In overcoming the Swiss he became the first Croat to reach a Grand Slam final since Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon in 2001. Federer had recorded 599 victories on hard courts and was hoping to become the first player to reach 600 in the Open era. Many believed that his recent form would take him to an 18th Grand Slam singles triumph.
It was not to be. After a delayed start caused by heavy rain Cilic raced into a two-set lead. Federer broke the 14th seed’s first service game of the third set but Cilic broke back. He seized the advantage in the seventh game of the set by breaking serve again and held on to close out his opponent 6-3 6-4 6-4 in less than two hours. Cilic won 87% of points on his first serve and reeled off 43 winners.
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“It’s an amazing day for me. I feel amazing,” said Cilic, who had lost his five previous matches against Federer. “It was the best performance ever in my career. I’m extremely happy to be in my first Grand Slam final.”
Tomorrow’s finalists have met seven times in professional tournaments, with Nishikori winning five of those encounters.
They have twice met at the US Open, in 2010 and 2012, recording one win each. Today’s women’s final will be contested by top seed Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki.