Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are one round away from a potential semifinal showdown in Paris, but they first have to get through possibly tough ones on Friday. Djokovic is going up against Marin Cilic as Federer faces Kei Nishikori.
(10) Kei Nishikori vs. (3) Roger Federer
Federer and Nishikori will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers and for the second time this fall when they collide in the quarterfinals of the Rolex Paris Masters on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 6-2 in favor of Federer, who just recently prevailed 6-4, 7-6(4) in the Shanghai Masters quarters. He has won five in a row at Nishikori’s expense since the Japanese world No. 11 had taken a brief 2-1 lead in the matchup with victories in 2013 (Madrid) and 2014 (Miami).
This is a potential Nitto ATP Finals preview, as Federer has long since clinched his London spot and Nishikori basically wrapped up a berth with losses by John Isner, Borna Coric, and Fabio Fognini on Thursday in Paris. The 28-year-old can finish no worse than No. 9 in the race and Juan Martin Del Potro is expected to withdraw from the year-end championship (Rafael Nadal is also a question mark). It was Federer who ousted Fognini 6-4, 6-3, preceding that result with a bye and a walkover from Milos Raonic. Nishikori beat Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-2 and then avenged last week’s Vienna final loss to Kevin Anderson by taking down the South African 6-4, 6-4. Although Nishikori is on fire at the moment, the surface favors Federer and the 37-year-old Swiss has dominated the recent head-to-head history.
Pick: Federer in 2
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(5) Marin Cilic vs. (2) Novak Djokovic
With Nadal’s Paris withdrawal and potential absence from the Nitto ATP Finals, Djokovic has the inside track on the year-end No. 1 ranking (he will take over the top spot heading into London regardless of what transpires the rest of the way in Paris). That seemed unlikely at best through the first four months of the season, but Djokovic suddenly snagged back-to-back Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. The second-seeded Serb is 29-1 in his last 30 matches following Paris wins over Joao Sousa (7-5, 6-1) and Damir Dzumhur (via second-set retirement).
This 29-1 stretch began following a loss in the Queen’s Club final to Cilic, who is Djokovic’s opponent once again on Friday. Despite that grass-court setback, the 14-time major champion is still dominating the head-to-head series 15-2. It is hard to see Cilic turning the tide back in his favor, as the seventh-ranked Croat has done well to reach the quarterfinals this week but for the most part has been slumping of late. He was a mere 2-4 since the U.S. Open prior to arriving in Paris, so this is likely one-way traffic for Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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