Kei Nishikori will begin his 2015 season against Steve Johnson on Wednesday in Brisbane. An all-Aussie showdown will also be on display with Bernard Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis bidding for a place in the quarterfinals.
Steve Johnson vs. (2) Kei Nishikori
Nishikori is looking to build on the best season of his career as he heads into his opener at the Brisbane International on Wednesday. Japan’s top player is up to No. 5 in the world after finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open and qualifying for the World Tour Finals (reached the semifinals before losing to Novak Djokovic). Nishikori, who compiled an overall record of 54-14 in 2014, is 8-4 lifetime in Brisbane with two semifinal appearances.
Up first for the No. 2 seed is a second-round date with Johnson. The two competitors previously faced each other last summer on the grass courts of Halle, where Nishikori prevailed 6-1, 7-6(4). Johnson booked his spot in this clash with a hard-fought 2-6, 7-6(0), 7-5 defeat of Marinko Matosevic on Tuesday. Like his next opponent, the 37th-ranked American also played the best tennis of his life in 2014, when he earned 19 of his now 27 career ATP-level match victories. Even a big hitter like Johnson, however, can struggle to dictate play against Nishikori, who takes the ball extremely early and plays right on top of the baseline. Those tactics should help the favorite exploit Johnson’s weaker backhand.
Pick: Nishikori in 2
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(WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. Bernard Tomic
It will be an all-Australian affair when Kokkinakis and Tomic go head-to-head for the first time in their careers. Regardless of what happens on Wednesday, this will go down as a successful week for Kokkinakis as the 18-year-old made the most of his wild card by upsetting No. 8 seed Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-3 in round one. Ranked 149th in the world, Kokkinakis has to feel good in Brisbane having qualified for the main draw last season before picking up his third career ATP-level match win this time around.
Tomic has enjoyed some well-documented success Down Under. He reached the Brisbane semifinals in 2012, is a back-to-back Sydney finalist (one title, one runner-up), and made a run to the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2012. Still hoping to live up to the hype at 22 years old, the world No. 56 opened on Monday with a 7-5, 7-6(5) victory over Sam Querrey. That result suggests Tomic is at least somewhat motivated, which–combined with more experience–may be bad news for Kokkinakis.
Pick: Tomic in 2
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