Nishikori, well known as the US open finalist in 2014...but since then, he has been suffered from frequent injuries and had to withdraw with his rib pain in Wimbledon this year. But still, I'm sure that USO is the best surface for him. Can he beat Djokovic again in USO and finally win the title this year? Top10 of ATP ranking is his home recently, but no big title yet...also not so young anymore, 26y. I hope he can get his job done properly in USO this year.
It would be amazing,kei is a huge underaciever,for his talent and skill he should have atleast won 1 slam or 1 masters ,but his body keeps letting him down.It sucks for me as a Stan fan to see the guy being shit all year long,so kei winning something big would definetly make this year of tenis a great one for me.
This season will be Kei's most consistent season yet there are still loose ends to be tied. It's a bit harder for him now than it was in 2014 because then, no one saw him coming that quickly and no one predicted he would reach a grand slam final that very year, beating 3 of 4 top 5 seeds on the way, including 2 hard court grand slam title holders. Now, the top players would have studied his game and weaknesses so the play he surprised them with may not be nearly as effective as it was when he first made the top 10. That said, theoretically Kei enjoys quick hard court surfaces that allow his groundstrokes to be more penetrating. I really hope he can do well for the last hard court slam and bring back some of those good memories. He certainly played unbelievable in 2014 and now he has the experience under his belt. If he beats Andy Murray in the QF, which won't be easy, I can see him reach the final.
What I will say is this is a prime time for Kei to make a statement for the year. He's got virtually nothing to defend from this point on and if he keeps up his performances, he has a very good chance to finish YE top 4, which will make seeding easier for the coming year. He's only been seeded top 4 at a slam once, last USO but got a bad R1 draw in Paire.
he's got pretty 'straightforward' first week. Goffin will be the toughest but Kei is much improved version of Goffin all around. Murray will be the real test. At least he's got a day rest between each and preferably fewer marathons.
I have been wondering what is his problem in tournaments...since 2014, people always expect his big title and I think he deserves it. Nishikori has enough ability to get people excited in his games but looks like he needs a little more "something" to win the title. Is it a frequent injury? Physical strength? Mental problem?? Considering recent Murray, especially after Rio, he showed us his great physical strength and his highly stable performance even though he lost in Cincinnati final.
Lower ranked players have rarely beaten Nishikori this year, which proves his hard work and solid performance. I wanna see him cry for joy in USO final.
Injuries constantly derailing his progress and momentum is the main thing. But even when relatively fit he will always have trouble with Djokovic/Murray due to their superior serve. They defend extremely well and make Kei earn every point (baiting a lot of errors), while also getting far more free points on their own serve. I think that combination is tough on him mentally.
Against everyone else he is pretty clutch, as they don't put the same pressure on him. Monfils annoys him a bit with a similar defense/serve combo as Djokovic/Murray, but he's obviously not on their level. So while their matches went deep Kei was able to clutch out both. But when Djokovic/Murray are always in his way it will be tough. He might benefit from playing them early in a tournament when they clown a bit, but he always plays them deep in tournaments when they're 100% serious. He's just gotta keep at it and take things one match at a time, never know what might happen if you constantly put yourself in good positions. Just ask Murray himself, kept going deep in slams and cashed in at Wimbledon when Djokovic finally slipped up. Of course Murray can beat Djokovic and Kei can beat both, but everyone has players they do poorly against.
Well he's like 30/1, so not the most realistic winner. But he does have a small chance. Tough luck to be drawn in Murray's quarter, his worst match-up and a player in good form (was obviously tired in Cincy, should have recovered now). He would have loved to be in the always chaotic Wawrinka quarter where he would arguably be fav to make SF. But he's gonna have to do it the hard way.
That's just this USO. Long term the main thing is keeping himself free from injures. Even when relatively healthy his game takes its toll on his body over two weeks, as he doesn't get any easy points from serve. Virtually every point he wins is from hitting several good attacking shots, which requires razor sharp focus and timing. So it's mentally and physically tough to maintain over 7 5-set matches, but he'll always be thereabouts.
I rate Cilic's chances of winning this USO higher than Kei's even though Cilic is in Djokovic's quarter. That should tell you a lot. Young gun Kei still without a big title. Still not in the same league or category as Wawrinka, Del Potro, Cilic, Berdych and Ferrer.
Cilic got extremely fortunate with the draw at Cincinnati, only had to face one top 4 seed en route (could have been 3) and that being a pretty worn Murray. With Wawrinka and Nadal out, Kyrgios as well, the bottom half was begging for a breakthrough. Before that never made past QF of a Masters. Kei's just been unfortunate to draw Djokovic at the late ends of these.
I'll note Cilic has never beaten Djokovic at all. 0-14.
Nishikori, well known as the US open finalist in 2014...but since then, he has been suffered from frequent injuries and had to withdraw with his rib pain in Wimbledon this year. But still, I'm sure that USO is the best surface for him. Can he beat Djokovic again in USO and finally win the title this year? Top10 of ATP ranking is his home recently, but no big title yet...also not so young anymore, 26y. I hope he can get his job done properly in USO this year.
Nishikori actually only had that big run in the USO 2014. Overall main draw record is 13-7 and he played the tournament 8 times. That means he's 7-6 in the other 6 times he reached the main draw (failed to qualify as a teenager in 2008).
He suffered bizarre R1 losses to Paire, Evans and Cipolla.
I don't think he'll lose before the QF's this year with the 1/8 section full of ********** he got, but it's not completely discarded.
I don't see it happening - Nishikori's game is very predictable for Djokovic and Murray and of course his weak serve gets exploited very easily. Murray is a nightmare matchup for him - just one win and that was when Andy was exhausted after playing everything to qualify for the WTFs. So QF at best I'd say.
If Murray and Djokovic lose early, he'd have a chance - but even then, he's vulnerable to the power players when they're having a great day.
'Nishikori is somewhat of a lesser version of Murray'. :lol:
Why do you specialise in talking such fath mate? Do you just like typing paragraphs?
Why are they similar players, because they both depend heavily upon movement? So Monfils is similar to Nishikori and Murray, yes? :lol:
Players don't have to be polar opposites to be considered different. Nishikori's backhand slice is virtually non-existent and only adopts it in times of emergency. Where is Nishikori's variety? How does Nishikori win most of his points?
Nishikori takes the ball incredibly early as often as possible on BOTH the forehand and backhand wing & is able to dictate with a lot more measure than Murray using the forehand. He is able to take the forehand up-the-line, unlike Murray who has to primarily roll it cross-court most-of-the-time.
Nishikori has no big first serve to gain the upper-edge in the rally off and his ability to play defensively on the back-foot when deep behind the baseline is less, because his wing-span from being so small (For a tennis player) at 5'10 isn't as great. He can't reach out and stretch for balls on the defensive. That's why most small players play aggressively, ontop of the baseline, taking the ball early in effort to rush opponents. Unless they're MADE to adjust their game to their opponent, who are firing big serves/forehands at them.
Every tour level player has a 'strong-base' they work off which enables them to win their points.
Murray's strong-base: Return-of-serve, backhand, variety/feel, defending on the backfoot. At times first serve.
Nishikori's strong-base: Return-of-serve, taking the ball early & rushing the opponent on their next ball, creating angles with forehand & backhand, preparing early for every shot using incredible foot speed.
If you're going to be a fan-boy, be a fan-boy, but you're going to try and speak like you have a clue, try and have a clue. :lol:
Too much :nerd: analysis and not even tennis analysis. You talk like you have a clue, but you don't. Lol. Your conifidence outweighs your understanding/knowledge of the sport and it's infuriating to read. Don't dictate what's up to other posters when you yourself have no idea.
"Kei is 1-7 vs Murray and he's somewhat of a lesser version of him"
3 best aspects of their game: ROS, backhand, movement.
Which other player in the TOP30 could have the same traits: only Djokovic. That's why people often call Murray a lesser version of Djokovic.
So yes, calling Kei a somewhat of a lesser version of Murray is completely justified. (even though Kei is far more delightful to watch) If you want an in-depth analysis of each player, feel free to send me a private message, my young pakistani friend.
No it's not, because they use their 'movement' to serve them in different ways.
It's too general to say they're similar in their style of games. It's like me saying Raonic & Krygios are similar because they both have consistently big serves. And my background is Indian, nice racism there though.
It's too general? I said somewhat and you wrote an article about it as if I said their styles were identical. You're trying to find a needle in a haystack, in an attempt to discredit me. A futile attempt to bust your own ego. :lol:
I thought it was Pakistani. Calling someone Pakistani isn't racist. What are you, a left wing liberal feminist?
It's actually people that see racism in everything that are true racists.
There's nothing to credit you with initially, for me to discredit. There is no needle in the haystack, you're way too general because your understanding of players' styles/games, match-ups etc are superficial at best. I just like calling out people who like to act like they have it figured, but are clueless!
It's clear the only reason you typed that rubbish was because you're Croatian and once again acting in 'bias' towards a countryman. You used to do that with Coric if you remember rightly? Until his results remained mediocre. Ohhh, wait for the post where he says he's still developing :grin2:
No I don't see the racism in everything. I see that there was no basis for saying 'my pakistani friend'. Cheesy shit to say at the end of a post :lol: the persons' background followed by 'my friend'. Sums you up though, a complete pseudo intellectual hack on an internet forum.
Not people, just nerds that read a win/loss ratio on every surface, look at serving and returning stats & how mobile a player is.
Kei's game is sick & slick to watch in my own personal opinion but yes, it is very much like Goffin's.
Both adopt the role of counter-puncher in the rally when they are being attacked and so therefore having to adjust their game to their opponent. When they're not having to defend, they are trying to be the one that takes the first initiative in the rally, by taking the ball early & use their quick nifty footwork to prepare early enough to allow them to do so. Nishikori leans to doing this a little more than Daveed.
Nishikori if he wants any chance this USO needs to reach the second week virtually unscathed. He needs to be fully fresh if he's to face the likes of a Murray in the latter stages.
Actually he has a good chance at getting to the 2nd week in very straightforward fashion.
B. Becker
Khachanov/Fabbiano
Kohli
Those matches he can easily win in straights.
Then a probably Goffin in R4 (Goffin might lose this match before it even begins). The real big obstacle is Murray in QF but if he's fresh and playing well, he could give a good account of himself. An SF run here would be excellent, but I'd be ok with a QF run + a very good match vs Murray. The important thing is that he get a YE top4 ranking to put himself in much better position next year to snag the big titles.
Look at his 2014 run
Odesnik
Andujar (retired after 2 quick sets)
L.Mayer
He was very much still fresh after those 3 matches, enough that he could go 2 4 hour back to back 5 setters, beat Djokovic and at least keep a semi respectable scoreline in the finals despite having very little left in the gas tank. He's obviously much fitter this year than he was in 2014, stronger, more experienced, but everyone knows his game now, especially the top guys, and I'm not sure he's gotten over the mental hump yet, but the fact that he's getting to these stages consistently is a very good sign.
A serve to red line? :lol: That isn't neccessarily redlining.
He doesn't have the serve neccessary to give himself a CHEAP edge in the rally/point one or twice a service game and that is an absolute crucial ingredient to be missing for a top 10 player, even if you're an exceptional mover from side-to-side with sick timing and tekkers on both wings.
I'm not arguing with you about the serve. I was the first one to raise that point in this thread. What I am arguing with you about is the need to red line. This red line stuff is a complete myth. It's all about having a strong base. The closest one to ever having red lined was Cilic. Both, in his matches against Federer and Nishikori, semi final and final back-to-back. But the others, just had at the time, very strong bases. Though I concede Wawrinka was red lining throughout parts during his match with Novak in the Aussie open 2013.
I think the key is being able to impose your game on the other opponent. Too many big hitters are able to impose their games on Nishikori, since his serve is so incredibly weak & the issue is, he is incapable of adjusting to that. His comfort zone is a lot narrower than Djokovic's and Murray's, once he is taken out of the position of being either neutral or on the front-foot in a rally, he struggles. Whereas Djokovic and Murray can cope. But not only can they cope, they come under threat less, since their first serves are better and in Djokovic's case, second serve too. But you'll never see either of these guys red lining. It's just a strong base.
Safin and Del Potro were never red lining either. Obviously they all hit the lines from time to time, but not to Rosol standard. You can't red line your game like that for 2 weeks over 7 best of 5 matches.
The number one priority in professional tennis, but especially Bo5 set major tennis? A strong-base. Guys with the strongest-base generally tend to go deepest. Strong-base = Serve/return or pattern-of-play you can depend upon, consistently, with a minimum of fuss, under pressure.
Raonic spoke in an interview that he is always believing he can beat Djokovic and Murray, because his game can make them adjust. His strong base of a serve and big forehand when he has time on the shot, is what a strong base is. You don't see him consistently red lining though. Red lining can only realistically be expected to be done in patches. Nishi doesn't need that option, he just needs to gain the semi edge in the point with a serve from occasion to occasion, now and then. That's all.
Nishikori is not talented enough to beat Novak or Murray with solid tennis. He will never beat them through point construction. Maybe back in 2014 when he was a novelty. Not many guys play like him and that threw the top players off when he first broke through. But not now.
His only hope is to 'red line'; IE, take the match away from them.
My point is that his current best tennis still isn't good enough to do that. He can't take the match away from them. That's largely due to his weak serve.
It doesn't come down AT ALL to talent. The reality is not as black and white or as bo tied in a present box as that.
It's either about how big your game is in terms of power or completeness. Raonic has a massive game in terms of power, Djokovic and Murray have massive games in terms of completeness. They're both very complete. They can hurt you and you can struggle to hurt them.
Nishikori has incredible talent, just like Gasquet and Nalbandian and various others from the past who failed to win a major. Donald Young is an example of someone with great talent, great hands and shot-making skill, but his game is too limited in it's range.
It's the game you set yourself with, to attribute best with your strengths and weaknesses as a player.
Nishikori can harm players, but he struggles to deal with the pain when they come for harming him. Djokovic and Murray don't. Does that tie into talent? Not IMO. Infact, I don't think I see how you can tie that down to talent. Rathermore the weight division of the player. Nishikori is a lightweight even compared with/to Murray and Djokovic. He's so short that he lacks the reach/wingspan to defend the way Murray and Djokovic can defend when players are attacking and that is the reason he has to be constantly aggressive, whenever he can. The pressure to remain on the offensive in a rally, especially on big points is huge. Wheras when you have the option available to you to be either offensive, or defensive in a rally, such as Djokovic and Murray do, suddenly the pressure becomes a lot less severe. Another point is when you are defending, you're reacting, which comes NATURALLY as a lot more instinctive, whether you like it or not and you don't have time to think. Without time to think, you have no time to choke.
It's too general and simplistic to categorise what Djokovic, Murray and Nishikori do as playing 'solid tennis'. Infact, it's ignorant and insulting.
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