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11/22/2024 08:49:29 am

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U.S. Open: Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic Defeat Top Seeds to Reach First Grand Slam Finals


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Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic defeated top seeds Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer respectively to reach their very first Grand Slam finals at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows.

The 10th seeded Nishikori won his historic semifinals match against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in four sets 6-4 1-6 7(7)-6(4) 6-3 in two hours and 54 minutes.

Nishikori, 24, broke the Djokovic's serve to take the first set but the Serb came out strong in the second set to easily take down the Japanese.

Both players held their serves in the third set to force it into a tie-break where Nishikori came out on top 7-4.

Nishikori continued on to the fourth set with his relentless double-handed backhands down the line and aggressive service returns that finally ended the set and the match.

Djokovic has nothing but praises on Nishikori's game.

"His backhand is very solid," Djokovic said. "One of the best double-handed backhands from all over the court. Really aggressive."

Michael Chang, Nishikori's coach was on his team's box and was full of emotions during the entire game.

"It's been helpful when I getting, I don't know, tired and frustrated," Nishikori said. "He can help me from the box."

Nishikori, became the first Japanese to reach the finals of a major event and is set to face Croatian Cilic on Monday.

The 14th seeded Cilic needed only three sets to dispose the 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer 6-3 6-4 6-4.

"First point to the last I was playing the best tennis of life," Cilic said. "I think mental part of the game from my own side was on a good spot."

Federer, who came back two sets down to win the match against Gael Monfils in his quarter-finals match, felt that he wasn't as confident to stage a comeback against Cilic.

"Marin played more aggressive," Federer said. "He was serving huge. From that standpoint I knew that margins were slim."

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