RICKY’S PICKS FOR THE U.S. OPEN SUPER SATURDAY: DJOKOVIC VS. NISHIKORI, FEDERER VS. CILIC

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2014

RICKY'S PICKS FOR THE U.S. OPEN SUPER SATURDAY: DJOKOVIC VS. NISHIKORI, FEDERER VS. CILIC

epa04385117 Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Gael Monfils of France during their quarterfinals round match on the eleventh day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

By Ricky Dimon

Two of Super Saturday’s protagonists at the U.S. Open are two players who just about everyone expected to be there; the top two seeds, in fact. The other two, however, are not entirely expected. All in all, it makes for an intriguing men’s singles semifinal lineup featuring Novak Djokovic vs. Kei Nishikori and Roger Federer vs. Marin Cilic.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Andy Murray of Great Britain during their quarterfinals round match on the tenth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Djokovic and Nishikori will be squaring off for just the third time in their careers, with the head-to-head series standing at 1-1. They were supposed to face each other earlier this season in Miami, but Nishikori withdrew from the scheduled semifinal with a groin injury. The Japanese is star is in the midst of a thrilling run in New York that includes two straight five-set wins over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka.

“I remember once he would just kind of make a breakthrough and start playing well he would get injured,” Djokovic said of Nishikori. “That has been quite an obstacle for him, but so far he’s been looking pretty fit in this tournament. Back-to-back five sets is a great sign physically for him.

“I think he’s playing best tennis of his life in the last 12 months. He started working with Michael Chang and he changed a few things in his game. He serves very efficiently. Obviously he’s very, very fast; maybe one of the fastest on the tour. (He has a) great backhand, great forehand; all-around player.”

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Gael Monfils of France during their quarterfinals round match on the eleventh day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Like Nishikori, Federer also needed five sets in his quarterfinal match. The 33-year-old saved two match points in a 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils.

Next up for Federer is Cilic, against whom the No. 2 seed is 5-0 lifetime. A red-hot Cilic trounced Tomas Berdych in straight sets on Thursday.

“He’s playing really nice,” Federer said of Cilic. “I must say he’s really cleaned up his game. I thought (on Thursday vs. Berdych) he played great. I think he’s doing great. I know it’s going to be a tough match. I played him in Toronto; funny match. I didn’t play great in the first set but somehow got it done, and then I think I wasted like eight match points in the second set; had to go three. So it was good to beat him.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis News, US Open tennis

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

September 5, 2014 at 10:21 pm

RICKY’S PICKS FOR THE @usopen SUPER SATURDAY: @DjokerNole VS. @keinishikori, @rogerfederer VS. #CILIC- http://t.co/ckh538Aywb @RD_Tennistalk