Philipp Kohlschreiber has dropped out in the round of 16 of the US Open 2018. The German Davis Cup player lost to Kei Nishikori in three sets.
By Jens Huiber from New York City
Three victories – and then a match against an opponent that Philipp Kohlschreiber simply can’t match. But against him he still had the chance of a late comeback. Kohlschreiber, however, did not use them. And so, after a good tournament against Kei Nishikori, the German number one of many years had to say goodbye to the US Open with 3:6, 2:6 and 5:7 after a playing time of 2:16 hours.
Philipp Kohlschreiber is well known away matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium, whether in the old version or in 2018, where he has already caused the audience to remain silent about his successes against John Isner. And this is where Kohlschreiber played a great match against Novak Djokovic, 2014 war´s
The audience was largely recruited from compatriots of Nishikoris, a phenomenon that can be observed worldwide, but which is probably particularly pronounced in New York City. Nishikori scored his greatest career success at the US Open, but lost the 2014 final against Marin Cilic.
Kohlschreiber had loosened up until half past nine o’clock local time under the guidance of coach Lars Uebel, the temperatures had already climbed up to the level of the early days of the US Open 2018. The German started well and immediately made up for an early break deficit. Nishikori, however, immediately struck back and set the tone for the coming minutes. Wobie of sounds could hardly be heard, the sound level in the second largest stadium of the National Tennis Center is enormously high.
The Japanese was the man who set the pace and cut changes. In contrast to Kohlschreiber’s previous match, in which the latter countryman Alexander Zverev was highly irritated with his variable playing. Nishikori did not challenge this at first. After 35 minutes the Japanese won the first set 6:3.
Unlike Zverev, Nishikori seldom helped out with unconstrained mistakes, Kohlschreiber’s undercut balls caught too rarely. Also in the second act, which Nishikori started with a break. After 72 minutes Nishikori had won two thirds of the required sets.
The climatic conditions and the opponent were certainly not conducive to Kohlschreiber’s epic comeback. Even though the 34-year-old Wahl-Kitzbüheler was initially able to fend off three break chances for Nishikori in the third set. In the seventh game, however, the time had come – regrettable in that Kohlschreiber had now found his way into the match much better.
In the tenth game, Nishikori suddenly opened a door again, giving Kohlschreiber the chance to equalize with a double mistake. But it also woke up the audience that had dozed off for a moment. Kohlschreiber aggressively took the second break opportunity, then a third, which he used with some luck. 5-5. Was there anything else going on?
Now Kohlschreiber suddenly varied as in the previous round against Zverev, whereas Nishikori no longer seemed physically fresh. Kohlschreiber should have won the eleventh game with his own serve, but Nishikori took the lead again with a break instead. Match ball number one fended Kohlschreiber off with a forehand shot, then the Japanese player made clear the quarter-final, in which he will face either Marin Cilic or David Goffin.
Here is the men’s single tableau at the US Open