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Kei Nishikori outlasts Andy Murray to advance to US Open semis

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Andy Murray’s stellar summer came to an untimely end Wednesday, as Kei Nishikori outlasted the world No. 2 in a five-set US Open quarterfinal showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray looked every bit the man to beat coming into New York, and comfortably took the first set 6-1, but a series of distractions, including an inexplicable gong noise, rain and a persistent butterfly, took him off his game and Nishikori seized the opportunity with a 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 win.

Nishikori picked up his level following a rain delay midway through the second set, dazzling the New York crowd with an array of stunning drop shots and perfectly placed winners to even things up.

The third set was an up and down affair with five breaks of serve and Murray would come out on top 6-4.

Things came undone for the Scot at the start of the fourth set, when an equipment malfunction caused a loud gong sound in the middle of play. Murray utterly lost his cool, complaining to the umpire, while Nishikori kept calm, winning five straight games to send things to a decider.

The fifth set started with three straight breaks of serve, and the moment seemed to get to Nishikori when, up 40-0 at 4-3, he couldn’t finish out the game. Nishikori regained his composure though and was able to finish out the match.

Murray’s match was plagued with an uncharacteristic amount of errors. The Scot put just 55 percent of his first serves in play and won 39 percent of points on second serve.

Nishikori will advance to the semifinals, hoping to improve upon his 2014 runner-up finish.

Murray, meanwhile, will have to settle with his second Wimbledon title and an Olympic gold medal.