- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
What Andy Murray’s Loss to Kei Nishikori Means for Australian Open 2017
- Updated: September 8, 2016
Andy Murray’s quest for a second U.S. Open title was upended on Wednesday when he was defeated by No. 6 seeded Kei Nishikori in five sets in the quarterfinals.
ESPN tweeted why Murray’s loss was so notable:
No Murray. No Nadal. No Fed.In 2004, Gastón Gaudio won the last Grand Slam without any of those 3 in the semis. pic.twitter.com/Byw2a2VI6P
— ESPN (@espn) September 7, 2016
It wasn’t a terrible performance by the three-time Grand Slam champion, but he fell into some of the same bad habits that have hampered his play in the past. The fourth set in particular was a return to his younger days when his frustration more frequently got the better of him.
A mysterious gong sound echoing through Arthur Ashe Stadium stopped play at one point, drawing Murray’s ire. Then, a butterfly began flying on the court, which visibly irritated him to the point that he swung at the butterfly before it was carried off the court.
Murray had a chance to win the match up 5-4 in the fifth set but couldn’t break Nishikori’s serve. From there, the 26-year-old Japanese star sealed the victory.
Despite entering Flushing Meadows, New York, as the No. 2 seed, Murray has been arguably the hottest player on the planet. He won his second career …
