A year after experiencing a career high by reaching his first grand slam final, Kei Nishikori suffered the opposite emotions yesterday as he was sent packing in the first round, beaten by the Frenchman Benoit Paire.

The fourth seed held two match points in the fourth set before going down 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 to Paire, ranked 41, an ignominious return to the scene of his greatest performance.

Such is the interest in Nishikori that a number of Japanese reporters were turned away from the US Open this year, the media rooms at Flushing Meadows unable to cope with the demand. After yesterday’s result, they might just be changing their travel plans.

“I don’t think I played bad,” said Nishikori, who had been seeded to meet world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. “I didn’t play great but it’s never easy, first match and he’s a good player. It’s very sad to lose in the first round but he was playing good tennis. It’s just one match, it’s tough to lose in five sets but I fought to the end.”

The tall Paire, who hit 21 aces, sounded like he was heading straight to the pub after what was the best win of his career. “I think I had a really good day serving today,” he said. “I saved two match points so I was a bit lucky but to beat Nishikori, for me, it was unbelievable for me to imagine it. I’m going to have a good time with my coach and team and everybody, but hopefully I’ll be ready for my next match.”

Defending champion Marin Cilic fared better, beating the Argentinian qualifier Guido Pella 6-3, 7-6, 7-6. And there was a heart-warming win for Mardy Fish – in four sets against Italy’s Marco Cecchinato – having spent the past three years dealing with severe anxiety disorder.