Asian history as Nishikori makes US Open final
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JAPAN’S social media lit up yesterday as the country awoke to the news that Kei Nishikori had become the first Asian man to reach a grand slam singles final.
Nishikori completed a historic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in New York in the early hours of the morning local time which public broadcaster NHK hailed as “an unprecedented achievement for Japan”.
The Nikkei Shimbun economic newspaper even updated its online homepage to carry news of the triumph.
Many bleary-eyed tennis fanatics had to watch live internet streams of the match — which began just after 1 am Japan time and lasted close to three hours — with the action only available on television via a satellite subscription network.
One hardcore Nishikori fan, Minako Takigawa, 35, said: “It’s so amazing. I stayed up to watch and still can’t sleep. I’m still buzzing. I’ll be a nervous wreck for the final.”
TV commentators screamed themselves hoarse, yelling “Nishikori through to the final!” as the 24-year-old dropped his racquet after clinching match point before sheepishly ruffling his hair, scarcely able to believe the scale of his achievement.
In Nishikori’s hometown of Matsue in rural Shimane prefecture, some 300 fans cheered on their idol while watching on a giant screen, Nishikori retweeting a photo of them waving banners as he stormed to the biggest win in Japanese tennis history.
“I don’t care too much about history,” world No. 11 Nishikori told local media. “I might feel a bit nervous but I definitely believe I can keep this form going and go on to win it.”
Nishikori’s previous best grand slam performance had been reaching the last eight of the 2012 Australian Open, and not since Kimiko Date reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1996 had Japanese tennis witnessed anything close to Nishikori's heroics in New York.
Should Nishikori overcome Croatia’s Marin Cilic in today’s final the impact on the sport in Japan could be potentially enormous — and it could not come at a better time with Tokyo set to host the 2020 Olympics.
Definitely huge
“This is definitely huge for Japan,” said Wimbledon champion Djokovic. “This can definitely be a great encouragement for tennis in that country.”
China’s Li Na has put Asian tennis on the map in recent years but injuries have frequently hampered Nishikori’s attempts to fulfil his potential, until now.
Nishikori tweeted a picture of himself doing post-match media in a commentary box with American great John McEnroe, saying: “Amazingly happy with my win today. Always great to meet some legends.”
Certainly no one worked harder, or longer for their place in the final.
In a remarkable display of endurance, Nishikori followed up punishing five-set wins over third seed Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic with an even more extraordinary effort, grinding down the top-ranked Djokovic in two hours, 52 minutes on a sweltering Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Meanwhile, big-serving Cilic stopped 17-time grand slam winner Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in another shocker.
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