KEI NISHIKORI MOVES TO GOLDEN SWING, BUT ISNER, QUERREY, YOUNG AND JOHNSON LEAD AMERICANS IN MEMPHIS

Written by: Staff on 13th February 2017

KEI NISHIKORI MOVES TO GOLDEN SWING, BUT ISNER, QUERREY, YOUNG AND JOHNSON LEAD AMERICANS IN MEMPHIS

epa05791745 Donald Young of the US hits a return shot to Adrian Mannarino of France in their first round match of the Memphis Open tennis championship at the Racquet Club in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 13 February 2017. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

By Ricky Dimon

Kei Nishikori has thrown everyone at the Memphis Open a bone by declining a bid for a fifth consecutive title. That’s right; the four-time champion has decided to take his talents from the hard courts of the United States to the red clay of South America. Nishikori is the No. 1 seed at this week’s Argentina Open, perhaps leaving the Memphis spoils to the likes of Americans John Isner, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Ryan Harrison, and Taylor Fritz.

As usual, Memphis has a distinct American flavor—to the extent that three of the four first-round bye recipients hail from the host country. Isner arguably has the most favorable path at the bottom of the draw, although he could face an on-the-rise American wild card (either Jared Donaldson or fellow big server Reilly Opelka) in the quarters . Potential semifinal opponents for Isner are Querrey, Harrison, and Steve Darcis. The latter is coming off Davis Cup heroics for Belgium and a quarterfinal finish in Sofia, while Harrison recently earned the Dallas Challenger title.

Karlovic is not only making a quick transition from clay to indoor hard courts (he lost last week in Quito to eventual champion Victor Estrella Burgos), but he also has a difficult road through Memphis staring him in the face. In-form Australian Jordan Thompson is likely the Croat’s second-round foe, and Karlovic could run into 2016 Memphis runner-up Fritz in the last eight. An intriguing second section of the draw includes Johnson, Bernard Tomic, Dustin Brown, and Frances Tiafoe.

A potential opening-round upset to watch is Fritz over Yen-Hsun Lu. But it would only be an upset on paper. Fritz has fallen to No. 114 in the world, whereas Lu snagged the final seed in Memphis at 59th in the rankings. But Memphis was the scene of Fritz’s best-ever event last season, so that has to give him some confidence.

Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori speaks during a press conference prior the 40th Argentina Open ATP 250 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 13 February 2017. EPA/David Fernandez

As for Nishikori, who defeated Fritz in the 2016 Memphis final, apparently four straight titles were enough. The world No. 5 has decided to head for Argentina instead. But perhaps the more things change, the more they will stay the same. After all, Nishikori has to be considered the overwhelming favorite to triumph this week in Buenos Aires. He finds himself in the same half of the bracket as No. 3 seed David Ferrer, but the Spaniard seems to be a shell of his former self at 34 years old. Ferrer finds himself in a difficult section that also hosts Estrella Burgos, Fabio Fognini, and Carlos Berlocq.

Pablo Cuevas and Pablo Carreno Busta are the bottom-half seeds who may envision stealing the title from Nishikori. Carreno Busta, who recently won a decisive Davis Cup fifth rubber for Spain against Croatia, should not have trouble taking advantage of a favorable draw and reaching the semis. Cuevas’ potential path appears to be more difficult, as he could open with Alexandr Dolgopolov before possibly meeting a confident Paolo Lorenzi.

Keep an eye on Guido Pella vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the first round. Pella is still in Buenos Aires after he lost the decisive fifth rubber there to Fognini and visiting Italy.