Final thoughts

Not sure if this final signals the end of the big four’s hegemony, but it does signal a rare calendar year when four different players won the slams, so the times could be a-changing, or perhaps we just saw two players who’d played exceptionally beyond their norm over the past fortnight, get their day in the sun.

Time will tell on that, for now Marin Cilic heads into the New York night as US Open champion and a deserving one on the day.

Kevin Mitchell will be along shortly to help us make sense of what it all means. As for me, I’m off into a slightly less glamorous corner of the New York night than whatever party Cilic is off to, and probably even a less glamorous corner than wherever Nishikori’s off to drown his sorrows. Been a fun couple of weeks though. Thanks for joining me this evening and throughout the tournament. Good night.

Interviews

Nishikori: “I couldn’t play my tennis...it’s a really tough loss...sorry I couldn’t get a trophy today, but for sure, next time. It’s been a really fun two weeks.”

A beaming Cilic: “I think this is all hard work in these last several years, and especially this past year. I think my team has brought something really special to me in this past year.”

“You never know when the nerves are going to kick in. I think both of us were pretty nervous in the first set...everything I was working for and dreaming came today...”

He picks up a check for $3m. Which is nice. And now he hoists the trophy!

2014 US Open Champion...Marin Cilic!

Cilic is the champion!

So just two days after he overpowered Roger Federer, Cilic does the same to a fatigued looking Kei Nishikori, who never got to consistently trouble him, and who was on constant pressure on his own serve as Cilic wore him down.

It wasn’t a classic final by any means — and the first straight set final since Roger Federer beat Andy Murray back in 2008 — but Cilic, playing well within himself on the day, can point to the run that brought him this far as evidence of what a deserving champion he is. It’s his first Grand Slam final and now his first Grand Slam title.

HIs coach Goran Ivanisevic cavorting in the stands as the well-heeled crowd around him eye him nervously. We’ll have the trophy presentation in a moment...

Nishikori 3-6, 3-6, 3-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Nishikori can expect a lot of support in the stadium as he tries to make a match of it. But he’s swiftly behind 0-15 as he’s caught deep behind the baseline again and finds the net with his backhand. An unforced error on the Cilic backhand has us at 15-15.

Second serve and some better set up play from Nishikori allows him to hit a forehand deep into the corner for a winner. 30-15. His attempt at a backhand into the same corner is long though and it’s 30-30. He can ill afford to give Cilic even this much of a look...

...that’s better though. A second ace of the match. 40-30. Second serve on the next point though. Long forehand from Cilic lets Nishikori out of the game, but Cilic will be serving for the championship now...

Nishikori* 3-6, 3-6, 2-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Two holds for the championship then. Second serve and we’re in play. Nishikori hesitates as he appears to be headed for the net and he’s punished as Cilic drives the ball past him for 15-0. Cilic misses on the next point with the court open though for 15-15, and Nishikori looks better as he sticks in the next point and Cilic’s backhand from deep finds the net. 15-30. And this is better from Nishikori as he makes Cilic work on each point. Again he comes off best as Cilic hits a forehand into the net and there’s a big roar round the crowd as two break points come up.

Second serve and another roar — the crowd want to see a match. Nishikori’s service return is long as Cilic saves one of the break points. Ace. That’s both of them. Deuce.

Second serve again and another unforced error from Cilic, who’s looking tight for the first time, has us at advantage Nishikori, but his next service return is shy as it strikes the net cord and drops back. Deuce again.

A big game this, now, and a big stroke of luck for Cilic, as his drop shot clips the net and gives Nishikori a glimpse of a winner, only for his lunging shot to fly wide. Advantage Cilic. Second serve again. And now Cilic pumps the air as he forces Nishikori wide before putting his backhand winner safely into open space to get out of a big game on his serve. One game away...

Nishikori 3-6, 3-6, 2-4 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

A couple of times in that last game you could almost feel Nishikori being dragged down by gravity as he tried to get some spring in his leap to exert some dominance in rallies — his movement and speed were always his best chance against Cilic but he’s looked so fatigued all afternoon that he’s never consistently troubled the big man who has 32 winners to his 14.

Nishikori takes the first point simply enough on his serve, then finds a neat forehand winner into the corner as he switches direction for 30-0. Another good serve has him at 40-0. he’s on his second serve again though and forced back into a baseline rally. It ends quickly as he goes for a flat forehand across the net that Cilci can’t get back and Nishikori takes the game.

Nishikori* 3-6, 3-6, 1-4 Cilic (*denotes next server)

So this could be over very quickly if Cilic can take another quick service game and pressure that Nishikori serve again.

Cilic takes a quick first point then comes into the net, only for Nishikori to salvage some pride with some topspin on a passing shot that drops the ball in for a winner and 15-15. His next service return is long though for 30-15. Ace. 40-15.

Better from Nishikori as a couple of whipped forehands earn him 40-30. Nothing’s coming easy for him though. A couple of lets on Cilic’s serve now. Then he’s in behind a big serve to force the point and a 4-1 lead.

Nishikori 3-6, 3-6, 1-3 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

There have been very few games where Nishikori has not been under intense pressure on his serve. He immeiately has to send in a second serve here and is off-balance to greet the service return, and duly misses. 0-15.

He’s clenching his fist now as he steps in to hit a forehand winner off a short shot by Cilic, but individual points are one thing, momentum is another. Cilic probing again on the next point and now he jumps on a short shot to put away a forehand winner. 15-30. Nishikori makes an unforced error on his backhand up the line and it’s another two break points.

Nishikori saves one on a wide shot from deep by Cilic for 30-40. An extended baseline rally now and Cilic waits patiently behind his defense for a Nishikori error, which eventually comes with a long two-handed backhand that misses the corner. Cilic breaks.

Nishikori* 3-6, 3-6, 1-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Cilic gets to work behind his serve again,and brings up 30-0 quickly. This time the net cord is not Nishikori’s friend.

Second serve. Nishikori runs in dutifully behind his return and is rewarded with Cilic hitting the net for 30-15. He’s not done that often this evening though. He’s in again on the next point though, only to get a lesson as Cilic scoops a simple lob over his head for 40-15. He’s looking more and more like the champion elect now, and another big serve his him up 2-1 in the third.

Nishikori 3-6, 3-6, 1-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Goran Ivanisevic looking nervous on the sidelines, as his charge closes in on glory. we’re quickly at 15-30 on Nishikori’s serve, then a sliced forehand attempt at a winner from Cilic goes just wide with the court open. 30-30. Big serve gets Nishikori’s nose in front, but he’s back at deuce after another weak two-handed backhand doesn’t make it over the net. Deuce on the Nishikori serve. Again.

He gets his first ace on a well-placed serve for the advantage, though, and while he’s made to work for it, he gets out of the game as he pulls Cilic all over the court on his second serve before forcing the error for the hold.

I think Nishikori would concur, Ibrahim...

Nishikori* 3-6, 3-6, 0-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)

It’s not been a classic by any means, but Cilic won’t care if he can just see out this set against a man very visibly carrying the scars of previous battles. 128mph serve for 15-0 and then the 12th ace for 30-0. 13th ace. 40-0. Nishikori retreats deep, deep behind the baseline just to try and get one in play. He does and a cross court backhand from Cilic misses for 15-40. And now a forehand misses for 30-40. Nishikori holding on. And now he’s back in the game with a double fault!

Another second serve. Nishikori crouches close behind the baseline in anticipation and he’s given a couple of looks in the rally that ensues, but can’t put them away and Cilic gets away with that point as Nishikori misses. Advantage Cilic. Nishikori gets back to deuce as a Cilic forehand deflects long off the net. Deuce.

Second serve and a groan from the crowd as it sits up, only for Nishikori to misjudge his two-handed backhand to sweep his return wide and then a big serve has him lunging in vain as the chance disappears. Cilic holds.

Nishikori* 3-6, 3-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)

It’s really looking like those 14 sets in the humidity of the previous three rounds are catching up with Nishikori. Though in fairness in that last game it was Cilic’s proactive aggressiveness as much as his own fatigue, that undid him.

Cilic serving for the second set having only lost 8 points in 8 service games. There’s another one though. Cilic’s backhand from the service return carries long. 0-15. Second serve. No problem. The return sits up and Cilic batters away the forehand winner into the corner. 15-15.

Double fault though. 15-30. Second serve. And Cilic makes an error on his backhand for 15-40. Another two break points. Big serve out wide for 30-40. And another big serve saves the next break point. How tough for Nishikori. Deuce.

Second serve again though. Can Nishikori at least put a down payment on progress in the third set? He gets the benefit of a challenged call for the advantage. Well, a Cilic forehand goes long and finally we have a Nishikori break. He needs another one though.

Nishikori 3-6, 2-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Nishikori forces himself to life to hit a quick forehand winner for 15-0, but then he’s looking leggy on his second serve as a weary backhand hits the net for 15-15. Second serve. Poor drop attempt from Nishikori only succeeds in bringing his opponent to the net and Nishikori hits his next shot into the net. 15-30 and again Cilic is stepping inside to punish his opponent as he sets up Nishikori for two more break points off a forehand winner. And he only needs one. Another Nishikori error and that sees Cilic break again.

Nishikori* 3-6, 2-4 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Nishikori still down a break obviously. Those two break points in the last game were the first since the opening game of the match. Can he see more in this game?

Well...Ace. 129mph. Ace. 30-0. Ace. 40-0. Ace. Game. That was brutal.

Nishikori 3-6, 2-3 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Nishikori races into the net to try and smash a winner, but has to watch anxiously a Cilic reaches the ball, only to miss his forehand. 15-0 and there’s a much better forehand winner down the line from Nishikori. Those are the shots that got him to the final Way too rare so far tonight. 30-0 and now another big serve brings up 40-0. He really needs to put some pressure on his man. This point is in play but Nishikori gets a little bit of luck as the ball comes off the frame of Cilic’s racket for a hold to love as the ball flies out. He needed that.

Nishikori* 3-6, 1-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)

That was tough for Nishikori, who pulled back three break points only to then still lose the game. At the moment he’s still looking for anything other than a few isolated shots to indicate that he’s finding his way into the match. Cilic has played...fine, but he’s partly winning by default here.

Cilic bats a few shots from the baseline back at his opponent then watches a Nishikori shot long for 15-0. Nishikori finds a more aggressive passing shot for 15-15 on the next point though and now he gets some encouragement as a Cilic backhand drifts wide for 15-30. Second serve. Just signs that Nishikori is returning better now and a deep service return stymies Cilic for 15-40 and two break points to get us back on serve.

Second serve again. Now then... wicked swerving forehand from Cilic sets up the miss and 30-40. And he serves an ace out wide to save both break points! Nishikori can’t catch a break right now. Deuce.

Cilic comes in to the net to put away a winner for the advantage now, and overpowers Nishikori on the next point to force the backhand error and take the game for daylight between him and his opponent in the second set.

Nishikori 3-6, 1-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Couple of worried gasps as Nishikori misses again for 0-15. He needs to settle, but he’s swiftly behind 0-30 here. Make that 0-40 as he plays another cautious point from behind the baseline then hits a forehand long for three break points.

Second serve. Better. Return isn’t hit well and Nishikori steps in and changes direction for the forehand winner, then a big serve helps him to 30-40. Still one to save though. He’s quickly on the defensive after a loose shot, but suddenly finds a beautiful drop shot with Cilic expecting another long shot on an extended rally. Deuce. Big for Nishikori.

Boos and whistles ring out as a heckler interupts Nishikori’s serve. Now the tempo seems to rise as the pair exchange blows before Cilic hits a flat, hard forehand winner for another break point. And a flatfooted Nishikori dumps a weak backhand into the net on the next point and Cilic breaks early in the second.

Nishikori* 3-6, 1-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Back to reality for Nishikori as a couple of big aces rattle past him for 30-0. Nishikori sticks in on another big serve and gets his reward as Cilic goes long to end a brief rally for 30-15. On second serve now and it’s Nishikori’s turn to end a rally with a miss, as his forehand goes long for 40-15, and another big serve sees off Nishikori in this game.

Nishikori 3-6, 1-0 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Gloomy early evening light in the Arthur Ashe stadium and gloomy outlook for Nishikori right now. He’s just not got into this yet. Quick first point of this set though, but now a double fault has him serving at 15-15. He puts away another quick point for 30-15, then gets to 40-15 as Cilic misses a glimpse of open court with his forehand from out wide. And that will help Nishikori — he moves Cilic wide to his left then steps round on his forehand to push a winning forehand into the right corner of Cilic’s court for the game.

Nishikori 3-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Nishikori just not finding the gaps past the wingspan off his 6’6” opponent so far. He’s been given chances on a low first serve percentage from Cilic, but his own decisive shots have been absent so far.

Can Nishikori at least slow Cilic up? He drops the first point, then a late call on a long Nishikori backhand brings up 15-15. Nishikori has Cilic chasing in vain as he punches a low forehand into the corner for 30-15, but then he’s passed down the line himself for 30-30, before Nishikori takes the next couple of points to at least prolong the set.

Nishikori* 2-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Lovely backhand from Cilic strands Nishikori for 15-0. Second serve now. And this time Cilic’s backhand misses for 15-15. Second serve yet again (that first serve percentage not climbing yet), but Cilic still able to put away a whipped forehand winner for 30-15. He’s not been great yet, but Nishikori has definitely looked tighter.

That was a lovely shot though. Cilic looked off balance in the corner but his big frame wrapped round a forehand cross court for a winner and 40-15, then a 130mph serve finishes off the game in style.

Nishikori 2-4 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

So we stay on serve in the first set - emphatically on serve in Cilic’s case. Can he get the breakthrough on Nishikori now his own service game is looking so comfortable?

Second serve on the opening point. And Nishikori misses with a backhand from behind the baseline for 0-15. Another second serve on the next point and Nishikori is pushed back behind the baseline on the next point and folds for an error under pressure for 0-30. And now he makes another error from deep to suddenly bring up three break points.

Nishikori saves one behind a big serve. Ditto, for 30-40. We’re in play for a big baseline rally on the next one though, and Nishikori eventually flicks a forehand wide as he steps in and Cilic breaks.

Nishikori* 2-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Ace. 15-0. Then a deep second serve followed by a slashing backhand brings up 30-0 with Nishikori off balance. Ace. 134mph. 40-0. More like it from Cilic on his serve. Second serve and Nishikori, backpedaling can only parry his return long. Another hold to love for Cilic.

Nishikori 2-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

Both men looking a little nervous early on, with Cilic’s greater reach perhaps the difference for now. Nishikori will be confident in chasing the ball in these conditions though, and when he settles he may give Cilic a few more questions.

Long opening point ends with Cilic missing down the line with his forehand as the court opens up for him. Then Cilic hesitates on a second serve and is punished by Nishikori for 30-0. He’s quickly on the board with the next point in a Nishikori error for 30-15. Second serve and inexplicably Cilic miscues his shot and the ball dribbles off his racket for 40-15.

Second serve again. And for the first time we see that fading forehand from Nishikori as he wafts a winner off Cilic’s service return.

Nishikori* 1-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Big serve for 15-0, then a second serve on the next point leads to Nishikori going for the backhand winner down the line but hitting the net instead. 30-0.

Another second serve and Nishikori goes long with a looping forehand from behind the baseline. 40-0 and Nishikori can’t keep his service return in play as the ball kicks up at his body. A hold to love for Cilic, which will help settle him.

Nishikori 1-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)

A big element of this match could be the success of Cilic’s first serve. Understndably low in a tense opening game, but he’ll want to play his way in. He stretches Nishikori on the opening point of his serve now, before coming to the net to smash away a awinner for 0-15. And now it’s 0-30 as Nishikori makes an error to find the net.

Now Cilic’s service return is long for 15-30, then a lovely serve deep and wide on the backhand brings up 30-30. Second serve and Nishikori pushes his man wide on the backhand and Cilic can;t get his feet right to get the ball back over the net. 40-30. Nishikori completes the mini-comeback when Cilic goes long on the next mini-rally

Nishikori* 0-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)

Here we go then. First serve of the match is wide.Immediate early rally and first point to Cilic as Nishikori finds the net with a backhand. And there’s the first ace for 30-0. Nishikori gets a big cheer for his first point as Cilic can’t dig up a shot from his low service return. 30-15. Second serve and Cilic misses with the attempt at a forehand winner into the corner. 30-30 and an early glimpse for Nishikori.

Another rally off the second serve and now Cilic’s forehand from the baseline looks tight and goes just wide for an early break point. Second serve again. And now Cilic stretches to whip a wonderful forehand winner across his opponent for Deuce.

Second serve again though and now it’s Nishikori who misses with the two-handed backhand straight down the court. Cilic then eases out of this game as Nishikori only just gets his racket on a fizzing serve down the middle.

About to get under way...

So immediately we’ll get a look at how the counterpunch of Nishikori, that so demoralized Djokovic the other day, can deal with Cilic’s serve, and indeed how Cilic deals with the wind — which is already A FACTOR™.

History

So we’re seeing history today.

The last US Open final between two players in their first Grand Slam final came in 1997, when Greg Rusedski British-ed his way to defeat by Pat Rafter.

2005 was the last time two players reached any Grand Slam final for the first time, when Rafael Nadal beat Mariano Puerta at Roland Garros.

This is also the first time since 1966 that the top two seeds were beaten in the semis of the US Open.

It’s the first final since the Australian Open in 2005 that hasn’t featured one of the big four of Djokovic, Federer, Murrray or Nadal, and only the third of the last 39 slams not to be won by one of those four.

And Nishikori is the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final.

More records as we get them… for now, Cilic has won the toss and elected to serve.

Warm ups

The players have just made their way onto the court for their warm ups. TV stations everywhere celebrating with montages and high octane graphics — Yeah!

Cilic

Marin Cilic will not be bothered in the slightest about being the slight underdog for this final — it’s not as if being favorite helped Djokovic or Federer on Saturday…

The big serving Croat was in bruising form against Federer, though his baseline game was as important as that big serve. His last service game to win the match was a brutal tour de force and as emblematic as anything of the way Federer was swept aside. Here’s how Martin Pengelly saw that game in our liveblog of the match:

Game, set and match Cilic, Cilic wins 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

Federer 3-6, 4-6, 4-6 Cilic*

This could, in a very literal sense, be it for Roger Federer, Cilic to serve, bigly no doubt, for the match.

Ace to start, 129mph, his 11th: 15-0.

Another, his 12th: 30-0.

Another: his 13th: 40-0.

Another? No. Into the net. But on second serve he plays a winner down the line from Federer’s return and that’s it: game, set and match Marin Cilic.

Here’s Cilic on the Federer win:

Nishikori

Nishikori actually came into this tournament with doubts about his fitness — he’s been unable to practise fully after an operation to remove a cyst on his foot. But his coach Michael Chang, who knows a thing or two about endurance around the court, claimed he was always confident that if Nishikori could get through his opening couple of games, that he could go deep in the tournament.

Fourteen sets in his last three matches tells its own story about Nishikori’s endurance. And those wins, which removed the 5th seed Milos Ranic, the 3rd seed Stan Wawrinka, and of course the number one Djokovic, are their own story too.

Nishikori has played those extended matches in some brutally humid conditions, though any worries about what he might have left in the tank are offset slightly by the cooler temperatures in New York today. The wind, as always, may still be a factor though (when they put the roof on the Arthur Ashe Stadium, I wonder if they’ll leave a wind tunnel open just for old time’s sake — or at least leave a leafblower running…).

Here’s Nishikori after the Djokovic win:

Afternoon all

And welcome to a much cooler New York than we’ve seen in recent days. It’s overcast and we may even see some rain. It’s not what the previous days led us to expect, but (segue alert) neither is this line up for the final.

Marching soldiers, anthems being sung...looks like we’re under way soon

Preamble

Good afternoon and welcome to Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer. Number one seed versus number two. The final we all expected and a classic contrast of styl....

We’re going to have a new Grand Slam winner today, as Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic, fresh from stunning the top two seeds in the semi-finals, prepare to go one step further by winning the US Open.

We’ll be under way around 5pm ET (10pm BST) and Graham will be here shortly with some build-up and to take us through tonight’s final.

Until then, here’s the redoubtable Kevin Mitchell on why Nishikori is the slight favorite for today’s final.

Read what Kevin has to say then send your own predictions and thoughts to Graham at @KidWeil or graham.parker@theguardian.com