Nishikori backhand long. Three match points. Marin Cilic, this is your time...

Repeat. Two points needed.

Unreturned. One down, three to go.

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The lights taking effect, but they might not be needed for too long. A Croatian fist pump when Nishikori goes to the net, but a rueful cry when he dumps one of his own. A backhand-forehand combo from Nishikori succeeds, but a backhand from deep is long. 30-30. Pressure. An ace! The patient has a pulse and stays alive when Cilic goes long. Now, though, he will serve for the 2014 US Open.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 live

"With two first time finalists you know your opponent will get tight. And Nishikori had to take the opportunity when it came to him."

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Dependability? Thy name is the Marin Cilic serve. I'm sure I hear someone in the crowd say "this is boring". You're a fool, because this is brilliant. Net-cord, Cilic drops, Nishikori scampers, the lunge just wide. When Cilic lands yet another serve, a backhand down the line sends Nishikori to the point of no return.

Marin Cilic is absolutely nerveless. When serving for the match against Federer, his serve rained down aces. Now, his serve is digging him out of a hole when the US Open title is within touching distance. 40-40. What about the forehand? Not so much. Another break point...

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Hang on, do we have a twist? Twice Cilic's backhand breaks down to bring the crowd to life. 15-30. Another idiot shouts out as the serve comes down. Can someone please throw him out? Now the forehand lets Cilic down. Two break points...

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"That was Nishikori's best game of the match."

Nishikori goes to the far end and orders a sake from the last-chance saloon. A fool in the crowd shouts as Nishikori serves, but it has little effect as Cilic stretches and fails to get it back. 40-0. Nishikori, strangely re-energised, gets huge whoops as a forehand doesn't come back. He's still fighting. Just.

Alex Haworth:, external Massive anticlimax, but at least I won't be too tired at work tomorrow.

Image source, EPA

Cilic knows that he only has to rely on his trusty serve three more times. Twelve points. It's been broken only once all night, and rarely threatened elsewhere. Again he's banging down the bombs, putting officials in danger as he peppers the back wall. Nishikori is leaping in to the ball so often he could collect air miles, but Cilic is done with a smash.

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Nishikori has just not been able to win the long rallies. He is up against a bigger man hitting the ball harder."

Ball game. Marin Cilic breaks in the third at the end of the longest rally of the match. It's wonderful stuff. Forehand exchange, then backhand. In the end, Nishikori breaks down, losing his backhand. Marin Cilic is three games away from the US Open title.

From now on, every Nishikori service game is fraught with danger, the 10th seed knowing that a mistake could spell the end. The handbrake is off with a dancing forehand into open court, complete with fist pump, but energy levels look low when Cilic finds range with a forehand of his own. 15-30. Now Nishikori is inexplicably into the net. Two break points...

Image source, Reuters

Cilic with his back to us, wiping his brow on his sleeve before tossing the ball into the New York evening. Bounce, belt, repeat. In a rare occurrence of Nishikori stepping up into the baseline, Cilic is floundering, but a wonderful drop leaves the Japanese stranded at the net. 40-15. An ace completes it. One step closer to glory.

Paul Sawyer:, external Nishikori looking a little dead on his feet now, would be a hell of a come back if he can get back into this.

Nishikori blows on his fingers like a man selecting a bowling ball. Slicey dicey, but a leaping backhand is sent to the net. 40-40. Oh that's good, a first ace of the final has Cilic groping in the dark. Now Nishikori finally bosses a point, sending Cilic all over the baseline before the Croat surrenders. Noise levels cranked up in NYC.

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, AP

"Nishikori's trying everything but he can't put anything together. Sometimes the harder you try it does not drop in. You can't pull three or four rallies in."

Every Cilic point is greeted with disappointed "aaahs" in the crowd. Every Nishikori point comes with whoops of delight. Those late-comers want more tennis. Twice Cilic goes to the big first serve to finally complete a hold. Pressure on Nishikori now. One more break could be terminal.