Nishikori beats Cilic in fifth-set thriller at US Open

Kei Nishikori turned the tables on Marin Cilic to reach the US Open semifinals for the third time after another dramatic encounter at Flushing Meadows.

Kei Nishikori has outlasted Marin Cilic in a rematch of the 2014 US Open final, moving into the semifinals in New York with a five-set victory.

The No.21 seed gave Japan a men’s and women’s semifinalist at the same Grand Slam tournament for the first time in the professional era with his 2-6 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4.

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Naomi Osaka won her quarterfinal in the match that preceded Nishikori’s.

Cilic won the 2014 match-up in straight sets but this encounter resembled their 2010 second-round match in Flushing Meadows, when Nishikori rallied for a five-set victory in four hours, 59 minutes – the fifth-longest men’s singles match by time in US Open history.

[21] @KeiNishikori avenges loss in 2014 #USOpen final by beating Marin Cilic. Nishikori is 3-6 in Grand Slam QFs with all 3 wins in 5 sets at @USOpen.
2018 d. @Cilic_Marin 2-6 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-4
2016 d. @Andy_Murray 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5
2014 d. @StanWawrinka 3-6 7-5 7-6 6-7 6-4

— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) September 5, 2018

This one lasted four hour and eight minutes and sent Nishikori into a showdown with No.6 seed Novak Djokovic or unseeded Australian John Millman.

Cilic looked to be in control of the match at a set and a break up but back came Nishikori to win the second set, and then the third in a tiebreaker after the Croatian wobbled on serve.

The Croatian seventh seed responded by taking the fourth but dropped serve early in the decider and his mood darkened, the 29-year-old arguing with the umpire and then slashing a ball wildly into the stands.

Nishikori allowed his advantage to slip, missing a break point that would have given him a 5-1 lead and then being pegged back to 4-4.

But Cilic was unable to hold his nerve serving to stay in the match and it was Nishikori who held his arms aloft.

Nishikori has now won 18 out of 24 five-set matches in his career.