Japanese qualifier Kei Nishikori's US Open run ended with a third-round loss to Spanish 21st seed Albert Montanes, who led 6-2, 2-1 when Nishikori retired Saturday with a groin injury after 38 minutes. Nishikori, ranked 147th, was coming off a gruelling five-set upset of Croatian 11th seed Marin Cilic. Another victory would have matched his 2008 run to the fourth round as the best US Open showing by a Japanese man since 1937.
Montanes will next face Swedish fifth seed Robin Soderling, the French Open runner-up who ousted Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.