Andy Murray is out of the US Open at the quarter-final stage after losing to Kei Nishikori in a five-set thriller in New York.

The sixth seed ran out 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 over the Scottish star at Flushing Meadows.

Nishikori will play Stan Wawrinka or Juan Martin del Potro in the last four with Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils contesting the other semi-final.

It had all looked so promising early on.

After surviving a scare in the opening game of the match, Murray broke his opponent to take a 3-1 lead and he didn't look back as claimed the first set in just 35 minutes.

Before the match, Murray had described Nishikori as one of the world's best players and the Japanese star showed his determination to turn the match into a real contest by breaking back to level the second set at 3-3.

A brief rain delay followed as organisers closed the roof at the Arthur Ashe Stadium and when play resumed the momentum was with Nishikori. The New York crowd were getting behind the underdog with a loose backhand from Murray allowing the man from Matsue to claim the second set 6-4.

The response was immediate as Murray raced out of the blocks to claim the first four points of the third set and secure an early break with a combination of power and delicate touch. But this was to be no easy contest as Nishikori fought back with a thrilling display of speed and flat, crisp ground strokes.

However the 26-year-old faltered at two crucial moments, firstly a weak forehand let Murray off the hook to hold at 3-3 and then a double fault helped the British number one edge ahead once more. Despite relinquishing his advantage one more time, the Scot wouldn't be denied again as he claimed the third set 6-4.

Early in the fourth set, a furious Murray expressed his frustration to the umpire and referee when noise from the sound system forced a break point to be replayed. Clearly still rattled by the decision, the 29-year-old lost his focus and allowed his opponent to cruise through the set and take the match to a decider.

A tense and confusing set full of twists and turns followed and it seemed as if the tide might turn back in Murray's favour after a huge moment in the seventh game. Having led 40-0 and needing just one point to take a 5-3 lead, Nishikori missed a simple volley and Murray made him pay.

But a crucial double fault by the Scot at 5-5 gave the 2014 finalists the encouragement required and he served out the match in just over four hours.