Djokovic out of US Open

In the semifinal of the 2014 US Open, Novak Djokovic was stunned 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 3-6 by Kei Nishikori. The world number 11 had played a total of 10 sets and more than eight hours of tennis in his last two matches, only adding to Djokovic's favorite tag, but it was the Serbian who looked second best in the semifinal.

Nishikori started the stronger, breaking Djokovic early in the first set as the world number one's struggled to find his rhythm on backhand and serve. Djokovic broke back straight away, but his resurgence was brief as Nishikori broke again at 3-3, held his own serve and took the first set 6-4 in dazzling fashion.

Djokovic, hunting for his second US Open trophy, roared back to take the second set 6-1 and seemingly, tilt the match back in his favor.

Key third set

The third set followed serve as stifling heat made the longer rallies - one game lasted over eight minutes - all the more energy-sapping. With Djokovic threatening to take the game, the Japanese player, changing his red shirt for white, appeared to get a second wind.

Holding his own serve, Nishikori broke Djokovic with some brilliant baseline hitting, leaving himself serving for the third set. But a double fault on break point saw the chance disappear.

Nishikori didn't let up, though, and pushed Djokovic hard on his serve. The Serbian responded and soon the players were in a third-set tiebreak. Nishikori took a 4-0 lead as Djokovic continued to make uncharacteristic mistakes. Despite the Serb battling back to 5-4, Nishikori's determination and power proved decisive. The Japanese star won the tiebreak 7-4 to reclaim his surprise lead.

The chance for a much needed change in fortune came Djokovic's way at the start of the fourth set, but he immediately lost his serve and then failed to take three break points in the following game, leaving Nishikori 2-0 up.

Djokovic's kept the pressure on Nishikori but the Japanese star kept his nerve, ultimately winning on his second match point to complete a stunning performance.

Nishikori, whose previous best in a Grand Slam was the quarterfinal of the 2012 Australian Open (lost in three sets to Andy Murray), is in Monday's final and will face the winner of the second semifinal between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic - a match which was delayed by rain.