Roarers could have named their own odds a fortnight ago that 10th seed Kei Nishikori and 14th seed Marin Cilic would meet in the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
In two of the biggest upsets imaginable, Nishikori made history by becoming the first Asian to reach a Grand Slam final when he sent top seed Novak Djokovic packing 6-4, 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 in 157 minutes.
Cilic completed the double with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 manhandling of Roger Federer in just 105 minutes.
But Nishikori was the bigger boilover. The 25-year-old was born in Japan, but moved to Florida in his teens. As he awaits the biggest moments of his career, he can reflect on beating the fifth, third and top seed to reach the decider.
It took him four hours and 29 minutes to beat Canadian Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4. Match point was at 2.26am New York time. Nobody has won so late at Flushing Meadows, and been successful in the next round.
But Nishikori blew away that theory as well.
He backed up for another marathon before beating Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in four hours and 25 minutes. By the time he met Djokovic, Nishikori’s previous two rounds had taken eight hours and 54 minutes, with a total of 646 games and 714 points.
By comparison, Djokovic’s previous two against Philipp Kohlschreiber and Andy Murray took three hours and 23 minutes, with a total of 455 points and 326 games.
Yet Kei Nishikori stitched up the world’s number one.
In an interesting stat, it was the first time in Djokovic’s stellar career he’s been beaten by someone younger than him. Djokovic is 27, Nishikori 25. The closest had been Andy Murray, who is just two weeks older than the Serb.
As for Cilic, the 25-year-old Croat had promised plenty but delivered little, until compatriot Goran Ivanesevic came on the scene as his coach.
Both were loose cannons, but the 2001 Wimbledon champion has settled Cilic down and the results are starting to show. It started with his straight sets quarterfinal defeat of sixth seed Tomas Berdych, pummelling him with 19 aces to four.
So Cilic was ready for Federer, who was obviously feeling the effects of his come-from-behind win to down Frenchman Gael Monfils. Federer’s never one to make excuses, and yet again showed what a top shelf sportsman he is by warmly congratulating Cilic at the net, and wishing him well for the final.
So in an era where Federer, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Murray have dominated the Grand Slam finals scene, tennis fans have a brand new pair to do battle for the last Slam of the year.
Of the 44 Slam finals since 2004, only two haven’t featured either Federer, Djokovic, Nadal or Murray.
In 2004 two Argentinians Gaston Gaudio and Guillermo Coria fought out the French final, and in 2005 Russian Marat Safin played Lleyton Hewitt the Australian.
Jayden
Guest
Makes one wish Del Potro wasn't out, he would have had a great chance here. That being said, happy for both, great players. Cilic served his time for his ban and is finally fulfilling the promise of his early years. Nishikori has had a great year making a Masters final. Yet his bodys given out right before he makes his mark. Heres hoping he has enough left in the tank. 1-1 H2H at the USO Cilic in 5
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Federer blew a gift opportunity to win another major, but at least this way I can fully support Nishikori.
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Roar Guru
After such a long period in which the Big Four (or Big Three excluding Andy Murray), finally we get to see some new faces take over the Grand Slam stage. We've seen it with Stan Wawrinka upending Rafael Nadal to win the Australian Open earlier this year, and now we get to see two non-Big Four players battle it out for the year's final Slam, the US Open. Cilic vs Nishikori is the first Major final to feature two debutants since Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta to win the 2005 French Open. Could this signal the beginning of a new era in men's tennis? I'd hope so, but I don't want to see the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic monopoly..... just yet. What a final it should be.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
"Nishikori made history by becoming the first Asian to reach a Grand Slam final" -- this has been repeated in many stories about Nishikori, even though his coach, Michael Chang, was a runner-up in the US Open, Australian Open, French Open, as well as winning the French Open. If we are talking ethnicity, then I think Chang would qualify as Asian. If we are talking nationality, let's be more specific and use the term "Japanese". Chang was American-born of Chinese parents, and was an American player. This is important, because Marin Cilic is referred to by his nationality, not because he is Slavic, Indo-European, Caucasian, or whichever other term of "race" one might use.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
i think the greater headline for i, is, how a noted madman in Goran Ivanisevic has got the best out of another another madman in Cilicto produce a pristine 'sane' performance that might end in winning a slam Nishikori is probably more deserving, due to taking out the best in Nole But, whoever wins, it will be cheered by the fans