RICKY’S PICKS FOR THE U.S. OPEN SEMIFINALS: DJOKOVIC VS. NISHIKORI

Written by: Staff on 6th September 2018

RICKY'S PICKS FOR THE U.S. OPEN SEMIFINALS: DJOKOVIC VS. NISHIKORI

epa06999722 Kei Nishikori of Japan hits a return to Marin Cilic of Croatia during their quarter-final match on the tenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE |

Kei Nishikori of Japan hits a return to Marin Cilic of Croatia during their quarter-final match on the tenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

Ricky’s preview and pick for the U.S. Open semifinals: Djokovic vs. Nishikori

By Ricky Dimon

Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori will be facing each other for the 16th time in their careers when they clash in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Friday.

Djokovic has complete ownership of the head-to-head series (14-2) and he is 13-0 in their last 13 encounters since getting upset by Nishikori 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the same stage of this same event in 2014. The two-time U.S. Open champion is 3-0 against Nishikori in 2018, with a straight-set win on the red clay of Madrid, a three-set victory immediately thereafter in Rome, and a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph in the quarters of Wimbledon.

If Nishikori failed to defeat Djokovic on clay this spring, when the former world No. 1 was still vulnerable in his comeback from 2017 physical problems, it is hard to see the underdog getting the job done now. After all, Djokovic is now the reigning Wimbledon champ who also won the Cincinnati Masters title and is sporting a 20-1 record in his last 21 matches. The Serb has advanced so far in Flushing Meadows with defeats Marton Fucsovics, Tennys Sandgren, Richard Gasquet, Joao Sousa, and John Millman, winning his last three matches in straight sets.

Also healthy (also finally!), Nishikori earned his place in the semis thanks to victories at the expense of Maximilian Marterer, Gael Monfils, Diego Schwartzman, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Marin Cilic, surrendering only one set to Schwartzman before scraping past Cilic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 in Wednesday’s QFs. The Japanese world No. 19 is through to his third career U.S. Open semifinal (1-1 record).

“He’s got one of the best two-handed backhands in the game,” Djokovic praised his upcoming opponent. “And very quick. If not the quickest, then one of the quickest players on the tour. Has phenomenal footwork. I have played him recently in quarters of Wimbledon; tough first two sets, then after that I felt like third and fourth I played very well. I raised my game.

“We faced each other many times in different tournaments. Probably the biggest match I lost against him was here back in 2014 in semis. He loves playing here, obviously. He had a tough one against Cilic and managed to prevail in that match, which was quite impressive…. When he’s on, he’s definitely a top-five, top-10 player. There is no doubt he’s won big tournaments, been in the final stages of slams, and he has experience. I’m expecting a tough one.”

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Richard Gasquet of France during the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JASON SZENES

“I don’t have great record against Novak,” Nishikori lamented. “It’s been a tough [matchup] last couple of years. (I’m) always excited to play Novak, because it’s (a) great challenge for me; always exciting to play him. He’s very solid from baseline. He doesn’t have many weakness. He has (a) great backhand and forehand, too. He can be aggressive and [his serve has gotten] better, too.”

“Everything” is what Nishikori concluded when asked what troubles him with Djokovic’s game. And the former world No. 1 is doing everything well right, how to the extent that he is –and has been–the odds-on U.S. Open title favorite. The fact that Nishikori needed five sets against Cilic also won’t help his chances.

Pick: Djokovic in 4