Kei Nishikori looked around Arthur Ashe Stadium and noticed the crowd.
With Nishikori playing immediately after Naomi Osaka's comfortable victory on Wednesday, the US Open became must-see viewing for Japanese tennis fans.
"It's good to have, you know, home support outside of Japan," he said. "Yeah, it's great news we're both in the semis."
Historic news, actually.
Both players won - Nishikori narrowly - to give Japan a men's and women's semi-finalist at the same grand slam tournament for the first time.
Nishikori rallied to beat Marin Cilic 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 in a match that lasted four hours and eight minutes.
His next opponent on Friday is two-time champion Novak Djokovic, who dismissed unseeded Australian John Millman 6-3 6-4 6-4 to secure a place in the last four for the 11th-straight time at Flushing Meadows.
Djokovic said he was "very tested" in the nearly three-hour contest against the man who defeated Roger Federer in the previous round.
"It's midnight now; credit to John for putting up a great battle. He's truly a great fighter," the Serbian sixth seed said.
After missing last year's tournament with a wrist injury, Nishikori has bounced back to the form that took him to world No.4 in March 2015.
Four years ago Cilic overpowered Nishikori in the US Open final but it's the Japanese star that now has the chance to claim that elusive first grand slam.
"Especially after coming from injury," he said.
"I think I'm enjoying this challenge."
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