Warriors' Nishikori gets boot in US Open

NEW YORK – A year after reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, Japan's Kei Nishikori was eliminated a few hours into the tournament.

The fourth-seeded Nishikori lost in five sets to 41st-ranked Benoit Paire on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). The Frenchman saved two match points in the fourth-set tiebreaker and went on to a 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory.

Nishikori withdrew from the hard-court warm-up at Cincinnati because of a hip injury but said Saturday (Sunday)  he was fine physically. On opening day, though, he looked sluggish late in the match.

Paire had never before defeated an opponent ranked in the top five.

Last year at Flushing Meadows, Nishikori became the first man from Asia to reach a Grand Slam final, where he lost to Marin Cilic.

Nishikori will be leading the Japan Aces in the International Premiere Tennis League this December.