Nishikori beats Djokovic, Advances to U.S. Open Final

Japan’s Kei Nishikori just beat the No. 1 player in men’s tennis, now he has a shot at being No. 1 at the U.S. Open.

Nishikori became the first male tennis player from Asia to reach a major singles championship on Saturday when he toppled top-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 at the U.S. Open.

In the final, he’ll play Croatia’s Marin Cilic, another surprise winner in the semis. The 6-foot-6 Cilic overpowered Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, ensuring a fresh new face will be holding up the trophy on Monday, when No. 10 Nishikori squares off against No. 14 Cilic.

It will mark the first time since January 2005 that a major final will be played without the likes of Federer, Djokovic or Rafael Nadal.

The 2013 U.S. Open champion, Nadal did not return to New York this year because of a nagging wrist injury.