Japanese fans responded with groans and tears when Kei Nishikori was beaten in the final of the U.S. Open on Monday, but took some consolation from the fact he became the first Japanese player to reach a grand slam singles final.
Croatian Marin Cilic swept past Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3 in under two hours at New York’s Flushing Meadows stadium in a match that got many Japanese out of bed early on Tuesday to cheer for Nishikori before heading out to work and school.
Bleary-eyed fans packed into an event viewing space in the trendy Shibuya area of downtown Tokyo in the rainy dawn to watch the match, chanting “Kei, Kei, Kei” and clapping whenever Nishikori won a point.
“It was really too bad he ended up losing,” said Kazuya Hirata, 46. “But you can say that history was made.”
“Cilic was just too incredible, that’s all you can say,” said Hirotsugu Harada, 22. “But it was a proud sight to have Nishikori out there as a representative of Japan.”
“Previously it was unimaginable that a Japanese player could make it onto the court for finals,” Abe told reporters. “Nishikori is still young. I hope he keeps on doing his best.”
Many hoped Nishikori’s performance would lead to new interest in the sport in his homeland.