Nishikori beats Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals

Kei Nishikori of Japan shakes hands with Novak Djokovic following his defeat of the Serbian during the US Open semifinal at Flushing Meadows in New York in this Sep 6, 2014 file photo. [Photo by Ella Ling/BPI/IC]

When you have just played back-to-back five-set, four hour marathon matches, the last person you would want to face would be an iron-willed world number one with a reputation for out-lasting everyone else on the tour.

A sweltering early September afternoon in New York, however, provided the unlikely stage for young Japanese Kei Nishikori to inflict a stunning four-set defeat on Novak Djokovic and deny the Serb a fifth successive trip to the US Open final.

With the mercury tipping 100 degrees Fahrenheit and in stifling humidity on Arthur Ashe Court, Nishikori proved tireless in grinding down Djokovic, winning 6-4 1-6 7-6(4) 6-3 to become the first Asian man to reach a grand slam final.