Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Novak Djokovic has fulfilled his media duties, looking understandably crestfallen, but he insisted that the prospect of his wife Jelena giving birth to their first child next month had not disrupted his preparation. "Of course I'm in touch with my wife. Of course I am being part of her pregnancy. It's normal. But it's no different for me in terms of preparing for the match and for the tournament. I had all my dedication, everything directed to this US Open. I tried to give my best and I did. Now my best today was not where I wanted it to be."

Image source, Getty Images

Wakey-wakey eggs and bakey. It was not a dream, Novak Djokovic has been knocked out of the US Open. The rain has stopped, the puddles mopped up and the second semi-final of the evening, featuring Roger Federer and Marin Cilic, is set to start soon. What would have been the odds on a Nishikori and Cilic final at the start of this tournament?

Big fat rain falling over Flushing Meadows. TV showing replays of the 1989 quarter-final between Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi, which isn't a good sign for those who want to see Roger Federer and Marin Cilic on court.

Agassi has hair (lots of it), Connors is fighting back in the fifth, bum bags are in fashion and shorts are very tight. We're going to take a break and return to live text action when tennis and fashion is back in 2014.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

"I have been waiting for the right time to ask Julia to marry me. I thought this was the right place and the right time to pop the question and thankfully I got a 'yes'," says Navratilova.

It's not just Kei Nishikori who is celebrating. Legend of the game Martina Navratilova, winner of 18 singles Grand Slams, has surprised her partner Julia Lemigova by proposing to her during the men's semi-finals at Flushing Meadows. Thankfully she said yes. Another happy US Open memory to add to her four titles there.

Shohidur Rahman:, external "Cilic is definitely going to get a lot of inspiration from Nishikori's performance."

Stacy Phillips:, external "Go Nishikori!! What a run he's on! Love it when someone other than the Big Four gets to the final!"

Rhosyn Morgan-Davies:, external "Biggest upset of the year by far! Can't believe it! Amazing performance from Kei Nishikori!"

As feared, it's begun to rain at Flushing Meadows, so there are now doubts over whether a delay is on the way for the second semi-final between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic.

Ben Thompson:, external "What a performance from Nishikori, world class...Definitely a future slam winner." #GiantSlayer

Kei Nishikori following his historic win over Novak Djokovic: "I was a little bit tight, especially with it being my first semi-final in a Grand Slam. It's just an amazing feeling beating the number one player. They were tough conditions today. I guessed I would have to play a long match and hopefully I can recover well for the final.

"He started to play much better after the first set, more aggressive, but I tried to to forget about the second set and focus again. Michael Chang has been helping me a lot, he is the reason I'm here. I hope it's big news in Japan. I feel the support from Japan, even on the TV."

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Wow. That is certainly an upset. A fantastic effort from Nishikori. Djokovic was the more tired at the end of this match on a stifling day. Nishikori's tactics were more clever - he has continued to come up with the goods at this tournament and just played better."

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

"That is unquestionably the biggest upset in men's tennis this year."

Image source, Reuters

Kei Nishikori, coached by Michael Chang, progresses towards his first Grand Slam final and becomes the first Japanese male player to reach a Grand Slam final. "I think it's going to be big news in Japan," says Nishikori.

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First blow to Nishikori. Has Djokovic any tricks left up his sleeve? Nishikori pushes Djokovic into a big black hole - a super-duper backhand winning return for two match points! Can the Serb find a way out? He saves one break point... the duo then trade blows from the baseline... Djokovic's forehand goes long and his lights go out. But Nishikori's star continues to shine brightly. What a performance.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

Former Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan has managed to get a ticket for the hottest show in town and he's watching Nishikori galloping towards history. Djokovic, with oodles of time, puts too much oomph on a forehand and it sails into the tramlines. The 10th seed finishes with a stylish ace.

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Nishikori is almost so tired he is relaxed. All the pressure is on Djokovic now to do something miraculous."

Image source, Reuters

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, AFP

"I don't know if Djokovic has got the energy to get this back - he may need some help from Nishikori. It will be interesting to see if nerves start to play their part now."

Seeds of doubt sown at 30-15, but Nishikori balloons a forehand over the baseline and Djokovic is off the hook. Another booming first serve from the Wimbledon champion to wrap up an easy peasy hold.

Nishikori's body was known to be a fragile one earlier in his career, preventing him from doing the sort of damage many had expected of him. The 24-year-old, having already been involved in five-set matches in this tournament, showing no signs of physical weakness in brutal conditions on Ashe.

A double fault, his fourth of the match, proves to be just a blip. Djokovic with a backhand into the tramlines. All Nishikori needs to do is hold his next two service games and an unexpected victory will be his.

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Credit to Nishikori after back-to-back five-set matches and then producing this performance. He is a little bit more tired and that is almost suiting him because he is having to go for his winners. He is hitting the ball so cleanly."

Image source, AP

Image source, AP

Spectators using all sorts of paraphernalia as make-shift fans in conditions hot enough to melt metal. On the court, it's machine-gun serving from Djokovic. Rat-a-tat-tat. Concluding a hold to love with his 10th ace of the match.