Juan Martin Del Potro and Kei Nishikori were on a collision course for the Indian Wells fourth round when that draw was revealed. It never happened because Nishikori ended up withdrawing because of a lingering wrist injury.
But it will happen at the Miami Open, and this time even earlier–in the third round on Sunday. Del Potro and Nishikori earned their places in the marquee matchup thanks to respective opening wins on Friday at the expense of Robin Haase and John Millman. The Argentine treated his raucous supporters to a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Haase during the night session, while the world No. 33 from Japan outlasted Millman 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 51 minutes.
“It could be a very difficult match for me,” Del Potro admitted. “Kei has a very good two-handed backhand; good returns. And he’s playing well. He feels 100 percent, free of pain in his wrist. And he’s a dangerous guy on tour. I mean, if he has a good day he can beat all of the other players. I must play even better than [against Haase].”
The head-to-head series stands at 5-2 in favor of Del Potro, but Nishikori has taken two of their last three battles dating back to the fall of 2016–after they did not meet once from 2013 through 2015.
Although both players are making their way back from various injuries, Del Potro’s latest comeback is much further along that that of Nishikori–with whom the 2009 U.S. Open champion practiced on Wednesday in Miami. The 29-year-old is back up to No. 6 in the rankings thanks in part to an 18-3 record this season that includes titles in Indian Wells and Acapulco. He is currently riding a 12-match winning streak.
Nishikori even played on the Challenger Tour earlier in 2018 to get some matches under his belt, and he is just 4-2 at the ATP level. He skipped Indian Wells after being upset by Denis Shapovalov right away in Acapulco.
“I’m happy to win; it wasn’t an easy match,” the former world No. 4 said after his success against Millman. “I didn’t play the past two weeks, so I had to get used to playing points again. But in the third set I thought I played well. I am feeling very good and playing with intensity for three hours today is good for my confidence.”
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who ya got?
Herbert will win.