India's Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand lost against the British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in the US Open men's doubles semifinal to end their dream run in the mega event.
The duo (Bhambri and Venus), who only just teamed up this summer after success with others, suffered a 7-6(7-2), 6-7(5-8), 4-6 loss in the thrilling semifinal against the British duo.
Bhambri, who was playing his maiden Grand Slam semifinal, was the last remaining Indian at this year's US Open. Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth's campaign came to an end after a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Brazil’s Fernando Romboli and Australia’s John-Patrick Smith.
Earlier, Indian veteran Rohan Bopanna and his partner Romain Arneodo of Monaco crashed out of the tournament in the opening round. Arjun Kadhe and his partner, Diego Hidalgo of Ecuador's campaign, also ended after the first round.
The semifinal clash of the US Open played in Louis Armstrong Stadium was a nail-biter at least until the first-set tiebreak started. Then, Bhambri and Venus ran away with it, giving up just two points to grab the first frame, 7-6(2).
In the second set, Bhambri and Venus made a comeback by breaking the English duo's serve in the first game. It looked as if an upset was imminent until Bhambri and Venus dropped the serve as well. A tight and tense game resulted in another tiebreak. This time, the tiebreak, and the set went to the Brits, 7-6(5).
In the third set, England duo Salisbury and Skupski started dominating, especially at the net. Up 5-3, the Brits earned a trio of match points, all three of which they squandered. But when serving with the match on their racquets, Salisbury and Skupski won the last set, 6-4.
After defeating Bhambri and Venus, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will face Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the Men's Doubles Championship finale at the US Open.
Granollers and Zeballos stormed into the final after defeating the unseeded American duo Robert Cash and JJ Tracy in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.