The top four seeds in the top half of the French Open draw have all advanced to quarterfinal Wednesday. Andy Murray is going up against familiar foe Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka is facing Marin Cilic.
(1) Andy Murray vs. (8) Kei Nishikori
Murray and Nishikori will be squaring off for the 11th time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 8-2 in favor of Murray, but dating back to the start of 2016 the story has been pure competitiveness. Three of their last four encounters have required final sets, including a Davis Cup first-round rubber (taken by Murray at home in Great Britain), at the U.S. Open (won by Nishikori), and at the World Tour Finals (Murray).
Nishikori has already gone the distance once at Roland Garros, needing five sets to subdue up-and-coming Korean Hyeon Chung in the third round. Japan’s top player appeared to be in line for another tough day–or even worse–at the office when he faced Fernando Verdasco in round four, but Nishikori recovered from a disastrous opening set to prevail 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0. The world No. 9 preceded those results by beating Thanasi Kokkinakis in four and Jeremy Chardy in straights. Murray has advanced with victories over Andrey Kuznetsov, Martin Klizan, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Karen Khachanov, dropping sets only to Kuznetsov and Klizan. The No. 1 seed has picked up the pace in his last two outings and it would be typical of Nishikori to follow up an impressive performance with an injury-plague letdown in his next match.
Pick: Murray in 3
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(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. (7) Marin Cilic
Rafael Nadal has surrendered a mere 20 games through four rounds and Cilic is No. 2 in that department this fortnight (26). Although it must be said that the eighth-ranked Croat has benefited from a favorable draw, he has also been extremely impressive. He has not surrendered more than three games in any set while disposing of Ernests Gulbis, Konstantin Kravchuk, Feliciano Lopez, and Kevin Anderson (the latter retired in the second set on Monday). This a much-needed stellar result on the big stage for Cilic, who compiled a combined 5-6 record at slams and Masters 1000s earlier this season but captured a title on the red clay of Istanbul.
Up next for the seventh seed is a 14th career contest against Wawrinka, who is dominating the head-to-head series 11-2. The third-ranked Swiss is 4-0 against Cilic on clay and 1-0 at Roland Garros, having gotten the job done 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 6-1 in 2008. Wawrinka triumphed at this event last spring for his third career Grand Slam title and he is suddenly looking like a contender once again. The 32-year-old slumped earlier in 2017 but lifted the Geneva trophy late last month and is now riding an eight-match winning streak. Especially on this surface, Wawrinka will be able to hit through the court more easily than Cilic–most notably on the backhand side.
Pick: Wawrinka in 4
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who ya got?
Standy in four
Crandy in three.
Standy in 4, ditto.
I’m not super convinced about Stan over Cilic though. But I’ve never been convinced about Stan. Every time he wins one of these GS’s it’s unbelievable to me.
And I’m a big fan of Kei getting a set somehow.
“Wawrinka triumphed at this event last spring for his third career Grand Slam title and he is suddenly looking like a contender once again.”
I’m I misreading this?, Wawrinka lost in the Semi to Murray last year.
Murray is too consistent and plays such a low risk game compared to Nishikori’s high risk, power game.
On hardcourts Nishikori thrives off the court speed, his foot speed and his power and can manage the occasional upset against Andy but unfortunately on clay Murray just makes him play too many extra balls.
Murray wins in 3. At best, Nishikori might get the occasional break of serve.
Jimbo gets it.
#MuzzoleAreBack
Furthermore, Murray’s superior return of serve and defense is allowing him to apply the pressure early in each of his opponent’s service games. This constant pressure translates to Murray always being in control of each set.
Jim, giving VR a run for his unmatched technical analysis (and from what I’ve seen so far, objectivity too!).
#CofeveIsBack
#HAWKonaroll!!
Well, Murray have a great chance of winning, but not because of his game being superior, but due to the fact that Nishikori’s body is fragile and not in the best shape.
Nishikori doesn’t need time when playing, unlike Klizan and Kuznetsov.
He can play with pace.
If you take a look at the games against Kuznetsov and Klizan, they were both able to steal a set each from Murray. These players however, are so inconsistent that Murray could just use his low risk game to win. Nishikori is by far not as inconsistent. He won’t miss as many shots as Klizan and Kuznetsov did and he will take the balls much earlier, allowing windows to open up.
Murray is playing extremly bad right now, he’s the worst number 1 i’ve ever seen. A Nishikori in form would win 3-0.
You don’t think Andy is improving, Sam? I’m more in agreement with Ricky but I agree if Kei isn’t injured, he’s in a different class than Klizan, Kuznetsov and Khachanov.
I do believe that he is improving, but not the way I want to. Murray is just playing it safe, nothing else. I loved how he last year decided to put some power behind his shots, which allowed him to constantly counterattack. He doesn’t have this weapon anymore.
Klizan was serving for the set with a break up both in the first and fourth set. He got too nervous and Murray was able to keep the balls in play.
He had such an easy match-up, Murray. Power players, going for broke for Every shot. That is exactly the type of players Murray wants to play right now. Delpo was clearly not feeling good, he barely ran and didn’t have a backhand, so every time Murray wanted to, he could’ve neutralised the point. Murray hasn’t showed me anything so far
Well done, Sam, Kei owning Andy, may win in straight sets……….
Wawrinka is a bad matchup for Cilic, especially on clay. Out of there 5 matches on clay, Cilic has only taken 1 set and that was in 2006 when Wawrinka just turned Pro.
Wawrinka wins in 4 sets but maybe 3 if he goes into God mode before his all important semi final against Murray.
I’ll also add, Wawrinka hits with too much topspin and power for Cilic. His cutesy style can’t handle it.
Cilic has a cutesy style? I wasn’t aware.
Lol! You don’t need to be, he tells you.
Big difference is the backhand.Stans is far better.Cilic a better server.
I don’t think the topspin is the problem. Wawrinka is the best player in the world when it comes to creating angles right now when Nole is playing bad. Cilic is a tall, stationary machine playing close to the baseline. He needs time, so when Wawrika finds the angles, tjere Will be No time for cilic to counter
I’ve been very impressed with Cilic so far, and I think this is the most likely round for Stan to fall. Few will agree with me, but I think if Stan wins the QF then he goes into Full God Mode for the last two rounds and takes the tournament (FGM won’t be necessary to beat Murray, who takes down Kei fairly easily).
Back to Cilic: at this point he is definitely the dark horse to win the whole thing. Despite the difference in surface, there are definite shades of his USO victory. When a guy with his size and talent gets on a roll, he is almost impossible to beat. He may be a a bit cutesy at times, but he’s got plenty of power when he needs it. So: Stan in a narrow victory, 5 sets. If Stanimal fails to show up, Cilic in 4.
How will we know if Stan was in FGM if he loses in the semis or final?
How will we know that Nole or Rafa didn’t choke/get injured if they lose the final to Stan?
So what’s the difference?
If Stan makes it to the final and loses to Rafa or Nole, then I will say: the better man on the day won. (Since Stan tends to bring his very best to GS finals, I will probably add: his best wasn’t good enough).
What will you say if Stan wins?
“Shit.”
LOL!
hahahaha
Stan definitely did not go into FGM at AO this year after he won the QF. He lost to a 35 year old Fed in the semifinal. But oh, I forgot. Fed is always in the Ultimate God Mode ( except when he isn’t).
He was playing Federer. Stan typically sucks against Roger on surfaces besides clay.
Yes, Stan gets a mental block against Roger, apart from two great wins on clay. He should have beaten him at WTF two years ago, but totally choked at the end.
Fed was playing pretty well though. He had some pretty quality wins for a 35 year old. And Stan ain’t a spring chicken either.
Stan in 4 and Nishikori in 5
Murray in 4…Cilic in 4.
Stan and Murray in 4 sets.
Murray in 4
Stan in 4
Murray in 3
Wawa in 4
It will be Murray and Wawrinka although Cilic is playing well and could be the dark horse here ……. http://www.138mph.com/murray-nishikori-wawrinka-and-cilic-wholl-be-left-behind/
I fancy Nishi to get a set.He,s better on clay than people give him credit.Remember Madrid 2014.
Cilic is playing unbelievable on clay this year.But I still give Stan the edge,esp. if it goes to five.
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kei’s ballboy uniform must be distracting andy.
This is surprising to see Nishi come out and win the first set pretty easily.
Can he keep it up?
Cilic up a break against Stan.
No, it’s the opposite! Wawa is destroying Cilic…leading 5:2
Kei is not giving up any ground so far. Trying very hard to not get pushed back, hitting deep. About to break a second time and does 5-2 Kei, first set.
Andy might just have to out-last him – if he wakes up in time. Kei has the first set. 6-2. That ballboy can play, Paul 😀
Nishikori is seeing it like a beach ball. Murray’s in big trouble here
No, not any more the match has flipped. Kei unable to hold position and Andy in charge. Ever since Andy got a time violation warning — he woke up and is now playing to win. Kei’s having a tough time. Andy has set points 2nd set and wins it 6-1.
3 out of big 4 have gotten time violations this FO. Andy got docked a first serve
Setting precedent for Wimbledon.
#RogerIsBack