KEI NISHIKORI BREAKS THROUGH AGAINST RAFAEL NADAL, FACES ANDY MURRAY IN SF

Written by: Staff on 15th August 2015

KEI NISHIKORI BREAKS THROUGH AGAINST RAFAEL NADAL, FACES ANDY MURRAY IN SF

Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates his victory over Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarterfinal match of the Open ATP tennis tournament in Montreal, Canada, 14 August 2015. EPA/ANDRE PICHETTE |

Kei Nishikori downed Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4 at the Rogers Cup on Friday. The Japanese recorded his first FedEx ATP Head2Head win against Nadal in eight meetings and moved into the semi-finals in Canada for the first time.

During the 82-minute match, Nishikori went four-for-four on break points while saving two of three break chances against. He served it out on his second match point to claim his 46th win of 2015. In 2014, he won a career-best 54 matches and claimed four titles. This year, he is tied with five other players with three ATP World Tour titles, trailing only Novak Djokovic (6) and Roger Federer (4).

Kei Nishikori of Japan in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarterfinal match of the Open ATP tennis tournament in Montreal, Canada, 14 August 2015. EPA/ANDRE PICHETTE

The highest-ranked Asian in ATP World Tour history, Nishikori was the first Japanese to take part in the Rogers Cup quarter-finals since Shuzo Matsuoka in 1991 (l. to Chesnokov). He will contest his fifth Masters 1000 semi-final and aim to reach his second final (Madrid 2014, l. to Nadal).

“[Nadal] wasn’t making many first serves tonight, so I knew I had to be more aggressive on the second serve,” said Nishikori. “Everything was working well, so I am very happy to win today.

“I was close in Madrid, but today I was dominating everything,” said Nishikori. “I definitely needed to change some of my tactics when playing against Rafa. I had to play 100 per cent to beat him.”

It has been 10 years since Nadal, a three-time champion at the Rogers Cup (2005, 2008 and 2013), has gone without an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title this far into a season. He is the only player to win at least one Masters 1000 event in 10 consecutive years (2005-14).

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their quarterfinal match of the Open ATP tennis tournament in Montreal, Canada, 14 August 2015. EPA/ANDRE PICHETTE

“Without a doubt he was better than me today,” said Nadal. “So just congratulate him. I think in the first six or seven games of the match, I should have been level, but it was 5-1. When this happens, it’s tough against a player like Kei. I had a chance for 2-0, then I had a tough game on serve, which I finally lost.

“I know it’s at the beginning of the match and the result was clear, but when you’re playing a player like Kei and in the situation I’m in today, it would have been easier if I’d started the match a little bit better. Because that would have given me confidence.”

Nishikori will face two-time Rogers Cup champion Andy Murray with a berth in the final on the line. Murray derailed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s title defence 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 39 minutes.

With the win, the second seed Scot booked his place at The O2 in London, qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the eighth straight year. Murray owns a 4-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head edge over Nishikori, including a semi-final win en route to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Madrid earlier this year. The Japanese’s lone victory came at the season finale in London last year.

“A lot of the crowd stayed and that really helped me get motivated,” said Murray. “They created a good atmosphere out there and I appreciate everyone staying.

“I passed well. I came up with some good passing shots and that was the difference today.”

Murray fired 24 winners, benefiting from 28 unforced errors by Tsonga. He claimed two of four break opportunities, while surviving all three faced.

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/montreal-2015-friday-nadal-nishikori )

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Kei Nishikori, Montreal, Rafa Nadal, Rogers Cup, Tennis

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

August 15, 2015 at 11:12 am

-@keinishikori BREAKS THROUGH AGAINST @RafaelNadal, FACES @andy_murray IN SF- http://t.co/j4V7Lcykqd #RogersCup #Montreal #Nishikori #Nadal
LisaFurfine says:

August 15, 2015 at 2:13 pm

RT @TennisNewsOne: KEI NISHIKORI BREAKS THROUGH AGAINST RAFAEL NADAL, FACES ANDY MURRAY IN SF http://t.co/EkZcAMDr6K #tennis