DJOKOVIC, FEDERER GO DOWN ON STUNNING SEMIFINAL SATURDAY AT U.S. OPEN BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 6th September 2014

DJOKOVIC, FEDERER GO DOWN ON STUNNING SEMIFINAL SATURDAY AT U.S. OPEN BY RICKY DIMON

epa04388455 A photo made with a tilt-shift lens shows Kei Nishikori of Japan serving to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinals round match on the thirteenth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 06 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/CJ GUNTHER |

Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer? Not exactly.

The 2014 U.S. Open men’s singles final will pit Kei Nishikori vs. Marin Cilic on Monday afternoon. That surprising title match became reality on Saturday afternoon when Nishikori and Cilic scored respective semifinal victories over Djokovic and Federer.

Kei Nishikori of Japan serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinals round match on the thirteenth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 06 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

It all started when Nishikori got off to a fast start and held on to upset Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3. The Japanese sensation broke his top-ranked opponent five times, including twice in the fourth set. Nishikori is through to his first major final, having previously never been in a semifinal.

“He played some great tennis,” Djokovic said of his conqueror. “I congratulate him for the effort. He was the better player today. Other than that second set, my game today was not even close to what I wanted it to be.”

“This year I have been playing really well,” Nishikori reflected. “I went to (a) final in (a) Masters once and I have been beating those top guys already. I was playing really well and really aggressive, and didn’t wait for the ball. Even (though) the opponent [was] Novak, I was playing my tennis. Everything worked well today.”

To say everything worked well for Cilic would be an understatement. The 16th-ranked Croat could no wrong in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Federer. Cilic blasted 13 aces compared to just one double-fault and held all but one of his service games while winning 39 of 45 first-serve points.

Marin Cilic of Croatia runs for a return to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their semifinals round match on the thirteenth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 06 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

“Just for the performance today from (the) first point to the last, I was absolutely playing the best tennis of my life. Considering the huge occasion I was playing in, the second time in a semifinals of a Grand Slam, it just can’t be more special. The crowd was rooting for Roger to come back. It wasn’t easy to deal with that, but I felt that my serve helped me a lot today, to get some free points to breathe a little bit easier. It was working perfectly.”

“It’s fairly simple,” Federer explained. “I think Marin played great. I think he served great when he had to. I think the first break (early in the first set) was tough. I think I was up 40-0 and then [lost] five straight points. Then (I) had one chance in the third when I was up a break and he came straight back. Those [were] my two moments really. But credit to him for just playing incredible tennis.”

Cilic is 2-5 lifetime against Nishikori. They have faced each other twice in Flushing Meadows, with Nishikori winning a five-hour marathon in 2010 before Cilic prevailed in a four-setter two years later.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 2014 US Open, Atp, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, US Open semifinals

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

September 6, 2014 at 7:46 pm

@DjokerNole @rogerfederer GO DOWN ON STUNNING #SEMIFINALSATURDAY AT @usopen BY @RD_Tennistalk http://t.co/jnAb8sw600 #FedererVSCilic #tennis
RD_Tennistalk says:

September 6, 2014 at 7:49 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @DjokerNole @rogerfederer GO DOWN ON STUNNING #SEMIFINALSATURDAY AT @usopen BY @RD_Tennistalk http://t.co/jnAb8sw600 #Fed…