NEW YORK—Kei Nishikori says he agreed with the chair umpire’s decision to call a let after a sound from the stadium's loudspeakers was heard during a point in the fourth set of his U.S. Open quarterfinal.
Andy Murray, Nishikori’s opponent, complained to the umpire about inconsistency, saying that a similar sound was heard earlier in the match, and a let had not been called that time. He then spoke to the supervisor.
"Wayne McKewen told me that it happened four times during the match, that the speakers had gone off like that,” Murray said. “I had only heard it one time before, which was on set point in the second set.”
The USTA issued a statement saying there was an audio equipment malfunction during the encounter.
Nishikori said the sound was loud enough to require a replay of the point.
"I mean, definitely,” he said. "My concentration went off. Yeah, I don't know what's the reason, but for sure they have to stop that."
Nishikori won the quarterfinal match in five sets.