Nishikori out of U.S. Open in first-round stunner

By Steve Keating NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fourth seed Kei Nishikori's hopes of making another magical U.S. Open run came to a quick end on Monday as last year's runner-up fell at the first hurdle, falling 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6(6) 6-4 to Frenchman Benoit Paire. The 26-year-old Paire, having collected his maiden ATP Tour title last month in Bastad, brought his good from to Flushing Meadows grinding out a three hour 14 minute victory to get the season's final grand slam off to a shocking start. "It's always very sad to lose in the first round, but I think he was playing good tennis," said Nishikori. "I don't think I played badly. Didn't play great, but still, it's never easy first match." Japan's Nishikori, whose run last year included grueling five-set wins over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka and a shock victory over world number one Novak Djokovic, had looked ready to survive the opening test coming back from a wobbly first set. But after the 41st ranked Paire fought off two match points to take the fourth set tiebreak 8-6 then carried the momentum into the fifth set where he recorded the decisive break to go up 3-2 before finishing off Nishikori with a thundering ace. "I had match point and I kind of lost a little bit my forehand," said Nishikori. "I mean, tiebreak can go both ways so maybe I lost a little bit of concentration but he was hitting good serves, too. "Especially the first couple games in the fifth set, I lost my concentration and he returned well, too. I mean, credit for him, too, playing good tennis with these conditions." A three-time winner on the ATP Tour this season, Nishikori arrived at Flushing Meadows as one of the favorites to capture the year's last grand slam. After a sluggish start, the 25-year-old slowly found his rhythm taking the next two sets and then looked ready to advance after going up 6-4 in the tiebreak. Paire, however, swept the next four points before letting out a mighty roar as the match went to a fifth set. "To beat Nishikori for me, was impossible to imagine this," said Paire, who entered the match with an uninspiring 2-16 record against top-10 ranked opponents. (Editing by Frank Pingue)