The semi final line up would be finally decided after Day Ten of the 2018 US Open at Flushing Meadows.
The USTA Billy Jean King National Tennis Center had been the home of hot temperatures and hot tennis for a week and an half and while not as bad today as some days had been, it was still well into the 80s F and humidity was running at 67%.
Naomi Osaka (20) didn’t plan on staying long enough to be bothered by the conditions, so she quickly destroyed the hopes of any further progression in the tournament for which Lesia Tsurenko may have wished.
The rising Japanese star continued her consistent and accurate annihilation of helpless tennis balls, transposing this into an opening set where she only needed to serve nineteen times - nine first serves were accurate, and Osaka won all points where this occurred.
Of the ten second serves which were in play, she won seven of those points.
In comparison, Tsurenko won just seven of the thirteen points when her first serve landed truly, and four of the eleven points when a second serve was required.
Two service breaks confirmed a set for Japan 6-1.
The second set began with some promise for Tsurenko as she led 40-0, but even that was insecure with Osaka in her take no prisoners mood. The break occurred, and the streak didn’t cease. 4-0 came, but when receiving at 1-4, Lesia found some break points of her own - three in fact - thanks primarily to a couple of backhand winners.
The response from Osaka was predictable and harsh - an ace and service winner, plus a number of unreturnables to save the break points and hold.
With a couple of Tsurenko double faults, the day was almost done, and when a return from Osaka landed nearly at the feet of Lesia on match point, it could only be netted.
Naomi Osaka won through to her first major semi final 6-1 6-1 in less than an hour.
Another epic five setter followed - the pair who contested the 2014 US Open final were at it again, and Marin Cilic (7) dominated the first set against Kei Nishikori (21).
The Croatian, who won the 2014 battle, was more secure on serve, winning 100% of points on first delivery, and 70% on second.
The only concern was the low first serve percentage, but Nishikori’s was even worse at just 39%.
Cilic hit 13 winners in set one, and broke the Japanese serve twice to set the pace at 6-2.
Nishikori, fierce competitor that he is, struck back well in set two, raising his serving percentages past those of Cilic, and minimising his unforced mistakes. Cilic was the first to achieve a service break, but a series of forehand errors helped Nishikori break back immediately.
The cleaner all round game brought benefits to the 21st seed, and his second break in the ninth game allowed him to take a 5-4 lead and serve for the set. He levelled the match at 2-6 6-4.
An early break of the Cilic serve in the third set continued the Nishikori momentum, but the Croatian forehand eventually found its mark and forced enough errors for the break back and 4-4.
In the tie break, two Cilic double faults didn’t help his cause, and Nishikori hit a backhand winner on set point to lead 2-6 6-4 7-6(5)
In set four, Cilic hit 10 winners, won 20 of 24 points on serve, won all four points when he went to the net, and faced no break points. He had four opportunities to crash through the Nishikori serve and was successful once, while maintaining a rock solid presence at his end.
6-4 and going the distance.
Nishikori set the pace in the decider, shooting out to a 4-1 lead, and he had two points to be ahead 5-2. Cilic stopped him in his tracks, with a trio of games and drew level at 4-4.
Nishikori, under extreme pressure, held serve easily, and then suddenly had three match points.
The last shot of a four hour battle was a cross court forehand return winner, lifting Kei Nishikori into the semi finals of this years US Open.
2-6 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4.
- Madison Keys (14) defeated Carla Suárez Navarro (30) 6-4 6-3, and she will play Naomi Osaka in the semis
- Novak Djokovic (6) defeated John Millman 6-3 6-4 6-4, but it took him almost three hours. He will play Kei Nishikori in the semis
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