The 24-year-old may become the first Japanese player to ever win the Grand Slam championship. BF_STATIC.timequeue.push(function () { if (BF_STATIC.bf_test_mode) localStorage.setItem(‘posted_date’, 1410034206); }); BF_STATIC.timequeue.push(function () { document.getElementById(“update_posted_time_3439026”).innerHTML = “posted on ” + UI.dateFormat.get_formatted_date(1410034206); });
1. Earlier today, Kei Nishikori beat Novak Djokovic (ranked No. 1 in singles) in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, making him the first Asian male to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
Mike Segar / Reuters
Nishikori won by the score of 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3. He was already the first Japanese male to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since 1933.
2. Nishikori is hoping to join China’s Li Na, the first Asian female to win a Grand Slam singles title, as a trendsetter in Asian tennis.
Mike Segar / Reuters
AFP / Getty Images JACQUES DEMARTHON
He is already the highest-ranked Japanese male in the Open Era, although he is still behind Japanese trailblazer Kimiko Date-Krumm, who reached no. 4 on the women’s tour in the ’90s.
3. Nishikori, currently no. 11 on the ATP rankings, defeated top-five seeds Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka before his history-making match with Djokovic.
4. Nishikori will play against the winner of today’s second semifinal between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic on Monday.
Mike Segar / Reuters
correction
The last Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal did so in 1933, not 1918 as this article had previously stated. BF_STATIC.timequeue.push(function () { if (BF_STATIC.bf_test_mode) localStorage.setItem(‘update_posted_date’, ‘2014-09-06 21:34:04 -0400’); }); BF_STATIC.timequeue.push(function () { document.getElementById(“update_article_correction_time_3755384”).innerHTML = UI.dateFormat.get_formatted_date(‘2014-09-06 21:34:04 -0400’, ‘update’); });
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