6-1 score and the manner of the defeat fittingly reflected how inconsistently Nishikori had been playing.
Fellow Roland Garros semifinalist Rafael Nadal criticised Ramos earlier in the tournament after also being penalised a first serve, saying he felt the umpire was looking for him to slip up.
So it was a bit of a guess which Nishikori would turn up Wednesday at a sunny but somewhat windy Court Philippe Chatrier.
"For sure I need more consistency".
"I didn't feel like I played great tennis today". I think Andy's probably a bit less confident [than last year], a bit more hesitant.
Murray was happy to profit.
Thiem said: "It was a very good match for me". "I think he's a very good umpire".
His body language spoke increasingly of a player heading for trouble.
The pair have meet on 17 occasions and Murray edges their head-to-head record with ten wins, including their most recent two encounters.
The match was still evenly poised - it was only 1-1 - yet it seemed as if Nishikori knew he had missed his chance.
Murray's display will not give Wawrinka any sleepless nights, but he will remember how outstandingly well the world number one played to beat him in four sets in last year's semi-final.
Nadal: I might not be up to Thiem challenge
Perhaps Carreno Busta's almost four-and-a-half hour win over 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic in the fourth round took a toll. Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champ, defeated seventh-seeded Marin Cilic and has yet to drop a set in this year's tournament.
Murray had not forgotten having looked in control at two sets to one up before letting the match slip away.
Nishikori needs a rest before he goes to play on grass.
"Trying to win tournaments I've never won before is a huge motivation, but I'm not trying to compete with Stan Wawrinka in terms of the numbers", Murray wrote in his BBC Sport column. "Recover first and try to be ready for Wimbledon".
The clash against Wawrinka will be Murray's fourth semi in a row at Roland Garros, while the Swiss star, who won the title in 2015, is in his third straight semi-final.
Realistically, it's over for Novak Djokovic, at least for the Djokovic we've known for the last six years.
"It was a similar situation coming in previous year", Murray said.
Then, in what was expected to be a third-round ambush, he sailed past Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets and was similarly at ease against Karen Khachanov in the last 16.
"Obviously if someone had offered me a semi-final spot before the tournament, I would have signed up for that because I was not playing well at all". "This is a whole new situation that I'm feeling". He also lost his No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray. But this is a different year.
"I couldn't maintain my level, obviously", said the Japanese. "I have lived on that wave of excitement, I guess, 'til the U.S. Open or so".
Murray will nearly certainly have to play better if he is to repeat last year's victory over Wawrinka, who is yet to drop a set and crushed in-form Marin Cilic on Wednesday. Early losses in three of his four clay-court events left him short of matches, unsure why he was playing badly and not sure how long it would take him to get out of it. "There are question marks for me over where Novak is - especially after that performance".
"On Friday is Nadal. In the finals, there is another top star". Halep came all the way back from a set and 5-1 down in the second to defeat Elina Svitolina 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-0. Pliskova beat Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
Comments