Kei Nishikori

[arti]

[Lleyton]

In other action, Kei Nishikori booked a blockbuster second-round clash against Gael Monfils. The Japanese star leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head by a count of 3-1, but the Frenchman took their most recent encounter at the Rogers Cup in 2017. Monfils saved four match points in one of the matches of the year.

On Tuesday, 2014 finalist Nishikori flew past Maximilian Marterer 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, while Monfils overcame qualifier Facundo Bagnis 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. The charismatic Frenchman is appearing in his first hard-court tournament since Indian Wells in March. He is two years removed from a semi-final appearance at Flushing Meadows.

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[Lucas]

[Barty]

In other action, Diego Schwartzman and Kei Nishikori set a third FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, after both advanced to the third round. In their two previous encounters, on the clay of Buenos Aires and Madrid in 2017, Nishikori stormed back from a set down to prevail.

On Thursday, Schwartzman overcame 21-year-old Jaume Munar 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2. One year removed from a breakthrough quarter-final run in New York, the Argentine is now one to watch at the hard-court Grand Slam. The 13th seed notched his 29th match win of the season.

Later in the day, Kei Nishikori advanced on Louis Armstrong Stadium after Gael Monfils retired due to a wrist injury. The Japanese star grabbed the first set 6-2 and Monfils answered right back with an early break in the second. But, bidding to draw level at a set apiece, the Frenchman jammed his wrist on a forehand volley. He would stop play a few games later.

"I thought I started really well, played very aggressive," said Nishikori. "I thought I was dominating from the baseline. Everything worked well. In the second, he started pretty good. Unfortunately it finished for him. We always battle, play great matches all the time. It's always fun to play against him. It's sad to finish like that. But so happy to go through."

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[Lleyton]

Nishikori extended his unbeaten FedEx ATP Head2Head record against last year’s US Open quarter-finalist Diego Schwartzman to 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 victory. The win meant the Japanese No. 21 seed had reached the fourth round in the three Grand Slams he contested in 2018.

Nishikori missed the Australian Open as he continued his recovery from a wrist injury that cut short his 2017 season in August. The 28-year-old was handed an easy passage through to the third round when fellow former Top 10 opponent Gael Monfils was forced to retire mid-match with a right wrist injury.

But on Saturday, in a clash between two of the ATP World Tour’s bet movers, few points would come easy. In a year in which the Japanese player had fallen as low as No.39 in the ATP Rankings in April, this was one of his most polished performances. He has never dropped a set in two prior FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings with Kohlschreiber, including a third-round win in Rome this season.

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[Żilu]

[Lucas]

US Open 2018: 9. wielkoszlemowy ćwierćfinał.


beIN SPORTS

Australian Open 2012, 2015, 2016
Roland Garros 2015, 2017
Wimbledon 2018
US Open 2014, 2016, 2018

[Lucas]

Nishikori Rolls Into Third US Open Quarter-final

Spoiler:

Japanese star growing in confidence

Kei Nishikori experienced few problems on Monday as he booked his place in the US Open quarter-finals for the third time (also 2014 and 2016). Nishikori overcame late resistance from Philipp Kohlschreiber in a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over two hours and 15 minutes in hot and humid conditions on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"I think I played good tennis to [make sure he did] not play his tennis," said Nishikori. "I think he was playing good, too, but I think I was playing a little better and tried to step in a lot and play aggressive... the way I wanted to."

He will next face seventh-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic, the player he lost to in the 2014 final, or No. 10 seed David Goffin of Belgium. The pair plays later today on the same show court.

“He didn't make many mistakes,” said Kohlschreiber. “He pushed me around. He was too much in control of the game. I maybe did not [have] my best day today… I think Kei is just not the best match-up for me.”

Kohlschreiber, who beat fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the third round, converted his first break point chance in the third game, but was then unable to break down Nishikori’s game. The German had won just 12 further points on the Japanese star’s serve, prior trailing 4-5 in a competitive third set. But a double fault from Nishikori let Kohlschreiber a route back to 5-5. Nishikori kept calm and immediately broke prior to closing out their third FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting (Nishikori 3-0).

Did You Know?
Nishikori competing at the US Open for the ninth time, reached the 2014 final (l. to Cilic) and the 2016 semi-finals (l. to Wawrinka). He didn’t compete in the tournament last year due to a right wrist injury.

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[arti]

Nishikori: 'I Don't Have Any Pressure'

Spoiler:

This time last year, Kei Nishikori didn’t want to watch the US Open. The Japanese star was sidelined with a right wrist injury, missing his first Grand Slam since 2012 Roland Garros.

“I saw maybe the final,” Nishikori said. “I didn't really want to see any matches, because I know if I saw, I wanted to play. After Cincy, I took maybe a month doing nothing and just doing rehab. I think I started watching at the end of the year last year. I started to have more time, and at that time I was starting hitting some sponge balls, playing some tennis. That's when I start watching tennis again.”

And less than a year later, the 2014 finalist at Flushing Meadows is into the quarter-finals at this event for the third time. While it’s no surprise that Nishikori has the level in him, considering he has climbed as high as No. 4 in the ATP Rankings, it might not have been easy to foresee considering the 28-year-old began his season playing two ATP Challenger Tour events as he continued his recovery.



You May Also Like: Nishikori Rolls Into Third US Open Quarter-final


“I was playing one match at a time, because I didn't have any confidence and I was still worried about my wrist,” Nishikori said. “I still had pain a couple tournaments after coming back.”

There were no thoughts of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo, his first quarter-final at Wimbledon or this performance in New York.

“We didn’t have any expectations. I think that’s important for us, that we didn’t have any expectations,” said Nishikori’s coach Dante Bottini. “We just were working day by day, trying to be as healthy as possible and try to go match by match and the results would come along. So I think if you expect too much of yourself, and too quickly, that can mess around a little bit with your confidence and with your head.“



And in a way, Nishikori has flown under the radar. He was inside the Top 10 for nearly three consecutive years, from the Monday after his runner-up finish at the US Open four years ago until last August. But he fell as low as No. 39 this April as he searched for form after his injury. In a way, that has helped.

“This year is easy for me, because I don't expect any big results. I try to play one match at a time,” Nishikori said. “This week it's been great. You know, every match I’ve been playing really good tennis, and, well, maybe I had more pressure a few years ago. I wanted to keep [my ATP Ranking in the] Top 10 every year, and that gave me a little bit of pressure.

“I kind of reset last year. Took six months off and this year, it's been great. Right now I don't have any pressure, but I’m also enjoying playing every match and enjoying playing tennis again a little more than before.”

With his run to the quarter-finals, Nishikori is projected to climb back into the Top 15. But more than anything, Bottini is happiest with the way his charge has been dictating play on the court, and how offensive he has been with his tactics. This tournament could have gone wrong considering the 11-time ATP World Tour titlist lost three of four matches before arriving in Flushing Meadows. But a small mindset change has helped.



“Just keep being positive, keep swinging, keep trying to look for the point. That’s his game, so he needs to keep doing it,” Bottini said. “I like the way that he’s playing right now. I like the way that he’s focusing. We don’t know if he’s going to reach No. 4 or No. 3. But we’re working for that. I like the way we are in this moment. He still needs a couple more wins and more matches under his belt, but he’s looking good.”

There is no pressure. Nishikori is simply having fun and giving it his all. And while he still has niggles here and there, his wrist is doing well.

“Monte-Carlo was really surprise for me to going final again. Even though I had some pain, I played through and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Nishikori said. “Clay-court season was great. First time going to quarter-finals in Wimbledon and everything, it's going well this year.”

And it might even get better when he faces Marin Cilic in a rematch of their 2014 championship match.

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[Barty]

Nishikori Rolls Into Third US Open Quarter-final

Spoiler:

Japanese star growing in confidence

Kei Nishikori experienced few problems on Monday as he booked his place in the US Open quarter-finals for the third time (also 2014 and 2016). Nishikori overcame late resistance from Philipp Kohlschreiber in a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over two hours and 15 minutes in hot and humid conditions on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"I think I played good tennis to [make sure he did] not play his tennis," said Nishikori. "I think he was playing good, too, but I think I was playing a little better and tried to step in a lot and play aggressive... the way I wanted to."

He will next face seventh-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic, the player he lost to in the 2014 final, or No. 10 seed David Goffin of Belgium. The pair plays later today on the same show court.

“He didn't make many mistakes,” said Kohlschreiber. “He pushed me around. He was too much in control of the game. I maybe did not [have] my best day today… I think Kei is just not the best match-up for me.”

Kohlschreiber, who beat fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the third round, converted his first break point chance in the third game, but was then unable to break down Nishikori’s game. The German had won just 12 further points on the Japanese star’s serve, prior trailing 4-5 in a competitive third set. But a double fault from Nishikori let Kohlschreiber a route back to 5-5. Nishikori kept calm and immediately broke prior to closing out their third FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting (Nishikori 3-0).

Did You Know?
Nishikori competing at the US Open for the ninth time, reached the 2014 final (l. to Cilic) and the 2016 semi-finals (l. to Wawrinka). He didn’t compete in the tournament last year due to a right wrist injury.

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[Żilu]

[Damian]

Four Years On, Nishikori Battles Past Cilic In New York Thriller

Spoiler:

Japanese star to meet Djokovic or Millman in final four
In 2014, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori contested a surprise US Open final after stunning Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, respectively in the semi-finals.

Four years after their breakthrough runs to the championship match, Nishikori avenged his final loss, recovering from 2-6, 2-4 down to beat Cilic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4. The 2014 runner-up withstood 57 winners and saved seven of 13 break points to advance to his first major semi-final in two years after four hours and eight minutes. Nishikori remains unbeaten in quarter-final clashes at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (3-0).

"He started very well... I didn't feel like I was playing great. I had to stay tough, especially in the second set," said Nishikori. "I started playing better from 4-2. I tried to swing a little more, play aggressive and start working better from 4-2 down.

"I am really happy to win and to go through matches like this. It wasn't easy and I didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis today, but I fought through somehow and it gives me big confidence."

The 28-year-old has reached three tour-level semi-finals this season and improves to 23-8 in Flushing Meadows. With his second win in four meetings against Cilic in New York, Nishikori extends his overall FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against the 2014 champion to 9-6.

"I came out in the match great, 6-2, 4-2 serving, and everything was going great," said Cilic. "[There was] just a little bit of a shift of the momentum there. Kei started to hit a little bit better. He broke me. He won six games in a row there, converted three of three break points and just put me back a bit on my back foot.

"From that point on, I felt the match was quite even... I felt that I created enough chances to even maybe win earlier, win that second set and I had some chances, as well, in the third. [It is] unfortunate to lose that. With a great, quality player like Kei, he also had his chances, and he made it... [the match] came down to couple points."

Nishikori

Nishikori, bidding to reach his second US Open final, will face two-time champion Novak Djokovic or John Millman of Australia in the semi-finals. Nishikori trails Djokovic 2-14 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but remains undefeated against Millman in two FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters.

"I don't have a great record against Novak, but it's always been a tough match in the past couple of years... always excited to play Novak, because it's a great challenge for me. It is always exciting to play him," said Nishikori.

"If he wins, it's going to be tough, but John is playing great. Either one is going to be tough. I will try to be aggressive and positive out there and hope I can play good tennis in the next round."

Cilic started well, extracting backhand errors from his opponent by being aggressive on his forehand to move into a 3-1 lead. The Australian Open finalist increased the pressure on Nishikori with comfortable service holds and moved into a one-set lead with a second break of serve in the eighth game.

Appearing in his third Grand Slam quarter-final of the season, Cilic appeared to be striding towards a two-set advantage with another break of serve at 3-2. But Nishikori immediately pegged back his 6'6" opponent, capitalising on multiple forehand errors to break to love. Following a comfortable service hold, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters runner-up, once again, took advantage of nervy play from Cilic to take a 5-4 lead. The 29-year-old hit back-to-back groundstroke errors before conceding the break with his second double fault.

"I felt once we were getting into the rallies he was slightly more consistent, and in... maybe 60 per cent of the rallies that he was the one that was dictating and creating chances," said Cilic.

Cilic

Nishikori continued to find success at the start of the third set, firing a pinpoint backhand down the line to secure his third consecutive service break. Despite visible frustration at being unable to break serve, Cilic soon found his range on his forehand and forced Nishikori into forehand errors to level the score at 4-4.

After trading a series of mini-breaks early in the tie-break, Cilic hit back-to-back double faults to hand Nishikori a 5/4 lead. The World No. 19 may have been unable to contain Cilic's forehand in the following point, but soon grabbed a two-set lead with a perfectly-timed backhand return winner. After racing out to 0/40 on Nishikori's serve at 3-3, Cilic made the first move in the fourth set with a series of powerful forehand blows. The one break was all that was needed, with Cilic forcing a decider with a service hold to 30.

"I tried to refocus after losing the fourth set," said Nishikori. "He was starting to play better again, and I almost lost confidence during the fourth set, but I tried to focus again in the fifth set... It wasn't easy, but I tried to stay calm and I really focused, especially in the last game."

Nishikori raced out to a 4-1 lead in the fifth set, with a crucial break of serve in the fourth game supported by three routine service holds. The 2014 finalist almost doubled his advantage two games later, and held two game points for 5-2 lead, before Cilic battled his way back into the match, winning three straight games. But Nishikori held firm, holding serve before firing a forehand cross-court return winner to advance.

Cilic was bidding to advance to his second major semi-final of the season after falling to Roger Federer in five sets at the Australian Open in January. The World No. 7, who lifted his 18th tour-level title at the Fever Tree Championships in June, drops to 33-9 this season.

Did You Know?
Cilic and Nishikori's 2014 US Open final meeting was the first Grand Slam final since the 2005 Australian Open not to feature Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

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[Damian]

Kei Hopes To Hit Rewind Against Novak

Spoiler:

Nishikori to face Djokovic for spot in US Open final (again)
Four years ago in Flushing Meadows, Kei Nishikori earned perhaps the biggest win of his career, defeating top seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to reach his first Grand Slam final.

“I forgot about it,” Nishikori said on Wednesday, smiling. “I always have good memories here. It was a tough battle against Novak. Yeah, for sure it's going to give me good confidence, even though I didn't remember. Maybe I will try to watch the match again, if he wins, and get more confidence.”

In the championship match, which lasted just one hour and 54 minutes, Marin Cilic cruised past the Japanese to lift his maiden major trophy. But now, it’s time to press rewind. Nishikori will try to upset Djokovic in another US Open semi-final. Will the script remain the same?

First thing’s first — the circumstances are different. Nishikori is no longer on the rise, but on the mend. The 28-year-old missed this tournament last year due to a right wrist injury, and he’d start his 2018 campaign by playing two ATP Challenger Tour events.

You May Also Like: Four Years On, Nishikori Battles Past Cilic In New York Thriller
But Nishikori is not satisfied having reached one major final and climbing as high as No. 4 in the ATP Rankings. While he’s not putting as much pressure on himself before his injury, he is ambitious. Nishikori doesn’t want to settle for making the semi-finals at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert worked with the Japanese from December of 2010 through the 2011 season, and he says he was a little bit surprised when he asked Nishikori about his goals seven years ago.

“I wasn’t sure. But it was to be Top 3 in the world, to win Slams, to compete in Slams,” Gilbert said. “Okay, sometimes you’re not sure and your people say it, but you don’t really believe it. But I think he really believed in it and expected it.”

And perhaps it is that belief that has aided his return to form. First it was a runner-up showing in Monte-Carlo, then his first quarter-final at Wimbledon, and now, after avenging the Cilic loss by ousting the Croatian on Wednesday, he has earned a spot in the US Open semi-finals.

“It’s almost like he willed that win. It was perseverance. It wasn’t pretty. It was brilliant at some times. But the biggest thing in tennis, they said the four most valuable words: game, set, match, Nishikori,” Gilbert said of Nishikori’s victory against Cilic. “That match had like seven, if it was wrestling, it would be reversals. He found a way to win the last point and that’s the only thing that matters in these majors.”


Nishikori didn’t have the best preparation for the US Open, losing three of four matches heading into the final Grand Slam of the year. But that hasn’t stopped him from battling match-in and match-out and, in the crucial moments, being unafraid of taking control and seizing the moment.

“I felt once we were getting into the rallies he was slightly more consistent, and he had in, most of the rallies — not most of them, but maybe 60 per cent of the rallies — that he was the one that was dictating and creating chances,” Cilic said. “I felt that once he had the ball in the middle of the court, he was controlling and playing well what he's doing usually well.

“He's playing really well. He's in the semis, and with these kind of conditions, I think he dealt with it quite good today… I think for him is definitely good challenge coming back to the semis and creating another opportunity. I felt that he was hitting the ball really clean, really well, as he usually does.”

And the scary thing for the remaining field, is that Nishikori did not feel he was at his best against Cilic, who had made two of the past five Slam finals. “It wasn't easy, and I didn't feel like I was playing [my] best tennis today, but fought through somehow and [that] gives me big confidence playing semis [in the] next round,” he said.

Nishikori has shown an even higher level this tournament, which is impressive considering he defeated Cilic. The No. 21 seed dominated veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round, a match that Gilbert commentated on.

“I thought he played excellent. He played great in that match,” Gilbert said. “The amazing thing about tennis is sometimes you don’t have to be great to win. Sometimes you can just be ordinary, but you’ve got to win. I don’t think he played that well today, but more importantly, sometimes you can play really well and lose. They said game, set, match, Nishikori. He’s moving on.“


There’s no doubting that Nishikori’s wrist injury was a significant hurdle to leap over. Missing the end of the 2017 season following Montreal, he’d eventually drop to World No. 39 this April, his lowest placement in the rankings since he was 21 years old. But now, Nishikori is working back toward his peak again and into contention for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in November.

“In tennis, if you don’t get better, you get worse. And he’s been getting better. He’s had lots of injuries to deal with. But all you can do sometimes is ask yourself and put yourself in the position,” Gilbert said. “He’s put himself in position and now… he’s just got to play the opponent and not the situation.”

All Nishikori has to do is check out video of the last time he played Djokovic in Arthur Ashe Stadium. While he may or may not remember it, the film doesn’t lie: Nishikori’s done it before, and there’s no reason he can’t do it again.

More Stories Like This In: US Open Kei Nishikori Player Features 2018

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[Barty]

[Damian]

[Lucas]

US Open 2018: 3. wielkoszlemowy półfinał.


Firstpost

US Open 2014, 2016, 2018

[Barty]

[arti]

[Lleyton]

[Lucas]

Nishikori Wins On Metz Debut, Through To QF

Spoiler:

Metz

Match Report

2018

Kei Nishikori
Two-time former champion Simon to next face seventh seed Krajinovic

Top seed Kei Nishikori got his debut at the Moselle Open off to a winning start on Wednesday by knocking out defending champion Peter Gojowczyk of Germany 7-6(4), 6-3 in one hour and 34 minutes.


In his first tournament since reaching the US Open semi-finals, Nishikori broke serve in the second and fourth games of the second set en route to his 29th match win of the season. Gojowczyk struck eight aces and won 79 per cent of his first-service points. Nishikori now plays fifth-seeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili or French wild card Ugo Humbert in the quarter-finals.

Last year’s finalist Benoit Paire overcame wild card Quentin Halys 7-6(4), 6-2 in 80 minutes for a place in the second round, and Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics got the better of sixth seed Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-2 in 85 minutes.

Two-time champion Gilles Simon (2010, 2013) needed only 73 minutes to beat Czech Jiri Vesely 7-5, 6-3. Simon hit nine aces and won 90 per cent of his first-serve points (35/39). He will next meet Serbian Filip Krajinovic, the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters finalist. Fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet, the fourth seed, saved six of seven break points and breezed past French qualifier Constant Lestienne 6-4, 6-2.

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