Kei Nishikori has nipped Roger Federer’s rise back up to the top of the game in the bud. The Japanese player beat the Swiss 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. It was his second win over Federer since the Italian Open last season.
The Swiss was up a set and then at 3-3 worked his way into the Nishikori service game. At advantage Nishikori won a 24 stroke rally, moving Nishikori around the court and then finally getting the better of the Japanese’s athleticism with a high forehand down the line winner, wrong footing his opponent. Another long rally ended on a Nishikori forehand error and Federer had break point. Nishikori saved it with a flat forehand cross-court winner. A forehand return winner down the line and Federer had another break point. Nishikori got a short ball on the rally and came in, but a Federer forehand cross-court passing shot was too good, hitting Nishikori racket rather than Nishikori hitting it, and the ball landing in the net.
A set and a break up, Federer then stumbled as Nishikori earned 3 break points, his deep and flat strokes at Federer not allowing the Swiss the room to set up for his shots and then earning him the chance to step into the court and hit a forehand winner for three break points. A Federer forehand cross-court winner saved the first. A Nishikori backhand error saved the second. On the third, Federer could not find his first serve and his second one was attacked on Nishikori’s forehand side, forcing Federer on the run and into error on his own forehand.
It was the Federer serve that would let him down. Serving to stay in the match at 5-6, he double-faulted to go down 15-30. A missed backhand volley and he was two set points down. He saved the first as he got Nishikori on the run and forced a backhand error. Federer then went for placement rather than power on his first serve, but he served into the wrong place-the Nishikori forehand. Nishikori had his timing going on that shot, fired a return and then pummeled the Federer backhand a couple more times to get the error and the set.
The third set was tight, going with serve, but at 4-5, Federer serving, Nishikori put the pressure on and got a look on a second serve on the first point. The Japanese took control of the point, hit the forehand deep, varying the speed and then injected point winning pace with a cross-court forehand to go up 0-15. Federer then netted a forehand into the net off a short ball and it was 0-30. Another second serve and Federer once more could not deal with Nishikori’s depth. His rhythm gone, when he was in position on the forehand, Federer hit a forehand cross-court long.
Nishikori had three match points for his second Masters 1000 semi-final. Federer finally got a first serve in, got the short ball and hit the forehand winner to save the first. Another first serve in, this one out wide, and the service winner saved the second. And Federer found the first service again. Nishikori got the return back, Federer hit to his backhand, but Nishikori’s reflexes and vision were on-song as he leaped into the backhand and struck a backhand passing shot that hit the line for a winner to win him the match.
Federer did not play badly, not on his groundstokes, striking more winners than Nishikori and less errors. But, his first serve percentage was only 51 percent, too low when up against a player of the depth, consistency and vision of Nishikori. His service woes and the talent of his opponent combined to stop Federer climbing further up the rankings to number four, and may even see him fall to number six once the Sony Open is concluded.
It has been an impressive run for Nishikori, beating Dimitrov and Ferrer in previous matches. Next up is Djokovic. The Serbian has not really been tested this week, while Nishikori has had as good a work out as you could hope for on your way to last four of a Masters 1000. Djokovic will have his work cut out against the world no. 21 who is looking like the top tenner the tennis world thinks he can become.
thetennisreview 
Leave a comment