Wild Card Kei—Nathan’s Blog

Written by: Staff on 5th November 2011

Wild Card Kei—Nathan’s Blog |

By: Nathan M. Cuny

All I can say is—WHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT! World No. 32 Kei Nishikori defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 2-6, 7-6⁴, 6-0 in the Swiss Indoors Basel. His win today is the biggest of his career as he is the first Japanese player to defeat a world No. 1.

His win today puts him one step closer to the brining home a second ATP World Title. Only six players have won a set 6-0 against Djokovic, including Nishikori. This season Nishikori accomplished his first ATP World Tour Master’s 1000 semifinal in Shanghai, where he lost to Andy Murray. He finished runner up at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston where he lost to Ryan Sweeting.

Had Djokovic not lost to the true wild card, Kei Nishikori, he would have been one step closer to adding a twelfth title to his already unheard of eleven titles this season. Djokovic could lose all the way to Barclays and still remain numero uno. Djokovic has only lost four matches this season—nothing compared to the 67 matches he has won.

Djokovic began the match in the lead, ending the first set 6-2 within thirty-six minutes. However his lead did not last as Nishikori forced a tie break in the second set, and concluded the match by winning eighty percent of his service points in the third set. The match lasted a total of two hours and sixteen minutes.

A matter of minutes ago, Roger Federer defeated his Swiss countryman and Davis Cup teammate Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6⁵ in the first set and 6-2 in the second set. This isn’t a huge surprise, like Nishikori’s accomplishment but it marks the 42^nd win for Roger Federer at Basel, a feat he has only achieved in Basel and at Grand Slam events.

I mentioned recently that a finals match between Djokovic and Federer would be fantastic, but honestly this is even better. It’s easy to predict two titans clashing against each other. But the titan Federer, against wild card demigod Nishikori, will be another historic moment for tennis.

You can catch this historic moment tomorrow following the Swiss Indoors Basel doubles final. Kei Nishikori and Roger Federer vie for the win tomorrow on center court after 15:00 Swiss time. I wish the best for both players, Roger Federer, and Kei Nishikori, in this most unexpected outcome for the Swiss Indoors Basel.

Topics: Basel, Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer