U.S. Open SF preview and prediction: Djokovic vs. Nishikori

Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori will be squaring off for the 16th time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the U.S. Open final on Friday.

Djokovic is dominating the head-to-head series 14-2, including 13-0 since losing to Nishikori 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the same stage of this same tournament in 2014. The Serb is 3-0 this season, with a straight-set victory in Madrid, a three-set success in Rome, and a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

If Nishikori could not get the best of Djokovic on clay this spring, when the former world No. 1 was still vulnerable in his comeback, it is hard to see the underdog getting over the hump at this point. After all, Djokovic is now the reigning Wimbledon champion who also lifted the trophy in Cincinnati and boasts a 20-1 record in his last 21 matches. The sixth seed has advanced so far in New York by beating Marton Fucsovics, Tennys Sandgren, Richard Gasquet, Joao Sousa, and John Millman, cruising through his last three matches in straight sets.

Also armed with a much-needed clean bill of health, Nishikori booked his spot in the last four with defeats of Maximilian Marterer, Gael Monfils, Diego Schwartzman, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Marin Cilic, losing just one set to Schwartzman before outlasting Cilic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon. The world No. 19 from Japan is now through to his third career U.S. Open semifinal (1-1 record).

“He’s got one of the best two-handed backhands in the game,” Djokovic said of Nishikori. “And very quick. If not the quickest, then one of the quickest players on the tour. Has phenomenal footwork. I have played him recently in quarters of Wimbledon; tough first two sets, then after that I felt like third and fourth I played very well. I raised my game.

“We faced each other many times in different tournaments. Probably the biggest match I lost against him was here back in 2014 in semis. He loves playing here, obviously. He had a tough one against Cilic and managed to prevail in that match, which was quite impressive…. When he’s on, he’s definitely a top-five, top-10 player. There is no doubt he’s won big tournaments, been in the final stages of slams, and he has experience. I’m expecting a tough one.”

“I don’t have great record against Novak,” Nishikori admitted. “It’s been a tough [matchup] last couple of years. (I’m) always excited to play Novak, because it’s (a) great challenge for me; always exciting to play him. He’s very solid from baseline. He doesn’t have many weakness. He has (a) great backhand and forehand, too. He can be aggressive and [his serve has gotten] better, too.”

Djokovic is–and has been–the odds-on U.S. Open title favorite for a reason. He is looking like the best all-around player in the game right now and Nishikori’s recent five-setter against Cilic will not help his upset chances.

Pick: Djokovic in 4

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