U.S. Open SF previews and picks: Djokovic vs. Nishikori, Federer vs. Cilic

September 5, 2014 Ricky Match previews 476

Djoker 4Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are one win away apiece from colliding in a second consecutive Grand Slam final. Standing in their respective ways on Saturday at the U.S. Open, however, are Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (10) Kei Nishikori

Djokovic and Nishikori will be squaring off for just the third time in their careers when they clash in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Super Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at 1-1, with Djokovic having cruised 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 at the 2010 French Open before Nishikori prevailed 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-0 on the indoor hard courts of Basel in 2011. They were supposed to face each other earlier this season in Miami, but Nishikori withdrew from the scheduled semifinal with a groin injury.

The Japanese star has been injury-plagued throughout his career, but from a physical standpoint he is enjoying the fortnight of his life so far in New York. After rolling over Wayne Odesnik, Pablo Andujar, and Leonardo Mayer, Nishikori pulled out consecutive five-set victories over Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka. The world No. 9 is now an awesome 39-9 for his 2014 campaign. Djokovic has improved to 44-6 following defeats of Diego Schwartzman, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Sam Querrey, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Andy Murray. The top-ranked Serb is bouncing back nicely from early losses in Toronto and Cincinnati. With recharged batteries and a heightened motivation level, Djokovic surrendered just a single set to Murray on his way to the semis. The No. 1 seed should have a clear edge over a fatigued opponent who is contesting the first major semifinal of his career.

Pick: Djokovic in 3 with no tiebreakers

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(14) Marin Cilic vs. (2) Roger Federer

Federer and Cilic will be doing battle for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this summer when they meet again on Saturday. All five previous encounters have gone Federer’s way, including a competitive 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4 affair last month in Toronto. The Swiss is 4-0 lifetime against Cilic on hard courts and 11-2 in total sets (9-2 in hard-court sets). Cilic, though, is playing the most consistent tennis of his career right now and he is no stranger to the latter stages of Grand Slams. The 16th-ranked Croat–who is 45-16 for the year–reached the U.S. Open quarters in 2009 and 2012, the Australian Open semis in 2010, and the Wimbledon quarters this summer (extended Djokovic to five sets). So far this fortnight Cilic has taken out Marcos Baghdatis, Illya Marchenko, Kevin Anderson, Gilles Simon, and Tomas Berdych.

These two semifinalists had much different days at the office on Thursday. After Cilic made routine straight-set work of Cilic, Federer recovered from a two-set deficit and saved two match points in a 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils. That was preceded by scalps of Marinko Matosevic, Sam Groth, Marcel Granollers, and Roberto Bautista Agut. The 33-year-old Swiss is 54-9 for the season, which includes a recent runner-up showing in Toronto and a title in Cincinnati. Federer withstood Cilic’s best effort at the Rogers Cup and there is no reason to think he will not do the same at an event he has won five times. The No. 2 seed has a ton of momentum in the wake of his comeback against Monfils; it’s not going away anytime soon.

Pick: Federer in 4

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67 Comments on U.S. Open SF previews and picks: Djokovic vs. Nishikori, Federer vs. Cilic

  6. Serena Says:
    “I feel more proud than you can ever imagine that I am black and I am in this sport,” Serena says. “I feel great about it. At the same time, I’m human. I’m woman. I’m powerful. I’m minority. I’m not only black. I’m playing for women. We fight for equal prize money, we fight for equal rights. I mean, I’m not just fighting one war here. It’s much bigger than that. And that’s what I’m proud to be a part of — not just for one group of people.” – See more at: http://www.changeovertennis.com/things-learned-day-12-2014-us-open/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=things-learned-day-12-2014-us-open#sthash.PgUCOfbo.dpuf

    #RockOnSister
    #ThatSaidGoWoz

    Reply

  9. If Kei wins tomorrow, he will pass subStandardSlaw for 4th place in the Race to London.

    Go Kei (happy either wei).

    Rafa 1505 points behind in the Race.

    Th-th-th-th-that’s all folks!

    #Humb1e

    Reply

  12. My interest level in following what was generally assumed would be wins for Messrs. F and D was not high enough to refuse an invitation to the best restaurant in town so missed the first SF but caught the 3rd set of Federer/Cilic. After watching the shortened replays I’m really cross at missing the live action!

    I had a hunch (see my comment at the start of this thread) both matches could be much closer than forecast and we might see some wobbles from the two top seeds but nobody (least of all the pundits) believed both underdogs would come through with flying colours. A bumper day for the bookies

    So much for Federer and Djokovic being the players who spend the most time signing autographs 🙂 Did you notice both of them stalked off without giving a single one although Nole at least managed to fling a wrist band at a fan as he exited.

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  13. Thank goodness Djoker won’t be able to take the USO trophy to the birth of his baby to pose for pictures and tell us all what a wonderful life he’s been blessed with.

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  14. ^^ +1
    What gets me is the back story to his wobbly performance i.e. what an emotional time it has been, getting married and expecting a baby and all that claptrap. Jeeez, they’ve been living together for yonks so tying the knot was hardly a life shattering event and men don’t normally fall apart because there’s a baby on the way. From the moment her pregnancy was confirmed and the wedding announced he’s milked the occasion for photo-call opportunities and to utter overblown sound-bites – viz. “tennis is no longer the most important thing in my life”.

    Reply

    • Sorry, but I don’t agree at all. I don’t even know why we have to criticize Novak for how he is acting at the prospect of being a father. The idea that he is milking it in some way is really kind of offensive.

      Maybe that’s the way he feels! Why not just let it be.

      Also the comment about him not being able to take the USO trophy to the birth of his baby, is in really bad taste. And I don’t want to hear that it’s meant to be funny. Just let him and his wife have their baby in peace and leave it alone. You don’t like the guy, fine. But leave his family out of it.

      Reply

      • NNY: It may be offensive to you but I am calling it as I see it. I may strike you as being cynical but after fifty years in advertising, marketing and public relations I can usually recognise if someone is being spontaneous or working to a pre-planned agenda.

        Reply

  15. Happy that neither Djoko or Fed winning this one. Yesterday was nothing short of a mega surprise .

    I did not see Fed match but I am assuming he got overpowered and outhit on the court

    But I saw the Kei Djoko match and Djoko was just not himself. The trademark Djoko fight and spirit was missing and he barely attacked and took charge. Read sumwhere there are rumours that he might take the remainder of the year off, any confirmed news on that?

    On Fed, after Djoko lost, I was like how lucky can Fed get to get his 18th..no Rafa or Djoko to beat. I am sure he himself started licking his chops after Djoko got out ..However was not meant to be. All the Fed fans proclaiming No 18 for him might be gutted, goodness had he won it..I shudder how insufferable the wen would have been due to non stop gloating

    Reply

      • Speculation very rapidly morphs into rumour and rumour into fact. Comments during his post match presser (see part of the transcript below) were deliberately vague but are probably what have given rise to the idea he may take the rest of the year off. With the birth of their baby in the offing it is hard to imagine he would jet off to India for the DC play-off, nor I imagine will he want to be in the Far East immediately after his child has been born.

        From the English newspaper The Observer:
        He has been asked many times if his marriage to Jelena Ristic after winning Wimbledon and the pending arrival of their first child had distracted him, and was firm in his protestation to the contrary. “I’m in touch with my wife. Of course I am being part of her pregnancy.

        “It’s normal. But it’s no different for me in terms of preparing for the match and for the tournament. I had all my dedication, everything directed to this US Open. I tried to give my best and I did. Now my best today was not where I wanted it to be.”

        However he seemed strangely uncertain in defeat, at first refusing to confirm that he would play again this year, expressing doubt about taking part in Serbia’s Davis Cup tie against India next week, then declaring he had signed for the Indian Premier League of Tennis, due to start in Dubai in December – if it starts at all.

        “I don’t know,” Djokovic said of his remaining schedule. “It’s too early. I don’t know yet. Just got off the court. I don’t know.”

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      • Like you @ed251137, I cannot understand why the wedding would be a distraction, they have been living together for years. The wedding was just formalizing what was already de facto. Also, it’s not as if Djokovic was involved in the details of the wedding planning, they had oodles of help for that.

        It is clear Djokovic’s game is not what it was in 2011. That is not the wedding’s fault. It is unfortunate that, post 2011, the Fedrazzi annointed Djokovic as “the one”, the one to protect their GOAT’s legacy so proceeded to spin this propaganda that he was the perfect tennis player, the most versatile, the most consistent blah, blah, blah. So when he fails, it cannot be his fault, something else must be responsible.

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    • @Sanju,

      I would have thought you’d be there live blogging with the rest of us. I got so tired of reading that it was all set up for Fed to win his 18th slam. Either some were saying Novak has it in the bag or Fed’s going to get it for sure.

      It just shows you that easy draws won’t get it done. It also proves one more time that there is no such thing as a sure thing. I keep saying it, but no one listens. You just never know what can happen in a slam. I did think that the semifinals would be competitive, but never in my wildest dreams saw a double upset. But that’s the sport, as Rafa would say!

      Reply

    • @ed,

      So you don’t think that Novak is genuinely happy and excited about being a father? That it’s all for show?

      Look, you are entitled to your opinion. But please don’t tell me that your fifty years in marketing and public relations makes you any more able to tell what is in someone’s mind and heart.

      I know that I really dislike when Rafa’s family is brought into any discussion. We saw it happen on Tennis Talk too many times. I just think that family should be off limits, especially an unborn baby who hasn’t even entered this world yet.

      I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.

      Reply

      • @NNY
        Did I say he was pretending to be happy and excited about being a father. No, I didn’t. I’ve no idea how thrilled or not he is at the prospect of broken nights and changing nappies 🙂

        You say any discussion about his private life should be off-limits but it is Djokovic and his publicity people who are driving the stream of orchestrated ‘we’re-so-happy’ photos and gushing announcements via Twitter designed to ensure acres of column inches in the world-wide media.

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  16. The tennis gods must be crazy! What a crazy week! So let me recap what is whirling in my head:

    Djokovic is the acknowledged HC maestro and yet, to this day, he only has one HC Slam. Please, Australian Open is plexicushion, Flushing Meadows is the REAL HC. The so-called clay court specialist on the other hand has…………2. Well, I for one am having a laugh………….

    I remember vividly Djokovi’s comments about the Indian Wells surface the year Rafa played it as his first HC tournament after his long injury hiatus. Djokovic sniffily said it was more for clay court specialists than HC.

    Ah well, Djokovic has nothing to worry about, his reputation will survive: he will go on a tear on the Asian swing and people will ooh and aah and forget about these unfortunate losses.

    Look to Djokovic being tagged favourite for Australian Open and RG 2015, and I approve.

    Vamos BB!

    Reply

    • @ed,

      You have made some good points. The truth is that most of the time I love reading your posts. So many times you seem to be reading my mind. You do have a way with words. I respect you and always will.

      As you said, we have no idea how excited he is about the sleepless nights and changing nappies! We call them diapers! 🙂

      Reply

  17. When Fed walked into the tunnel towards the court and was interviewed by Mary Joe, he said he was fortunate and lucky to be in SF, that he was lucky he was warming up rather than packing to catch the flight..that suggested he was not feeling that confident

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  18. March 10, 2013

    Novak Djokovic

    INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA

    N. DJOKOVIC/F. Fognini
    6‑0, 5‑7, 6‑2

    Q. On the court you said the second set was all your fault. What happened? Where did it go wrong?
    NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, it’s the first match in the tournament. It’s my first hit this year on the center court. I started really, really good and I felt great physically.
    Mentally I was there, you know. Confidence level is high obviously because of the run I had this year. Game‑wise, everything works. I had a very bad game on 4‑2, couple of unforced errors, got him back in the match. And that’s tennis, you know. Next thing you know we’re one set all and a couple of tight games.
    But look, I’m not concerned, you know. I know I have been in this situation before where I had minor setbacks in a match, especially in the opening matches where I’m trying to get used to the court, the conditions, so forth.
    He’s a good player on this surface. I mean, it’s a very slow surface. It bounces high. He loves playing on clay. He loves playing on slow surfaces. He made me work. He made me earn my points.
    In the end, I have done what I needed to do. The W is there, so I feel good about myself.

    Q. Do you have a bit of a cold? You sound almost like you might, or allergies?
    NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, no, not something I know of, no.

    Q. Sometimes is it hard to not sort of feel yourself letting up after a bagel a bit, a little bit of sympathy with someone you know or…
    NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn’t ‑‑well, at least I tried not to allow myself to, you know, kind of relax and take things, you know, in some easier fashion than I had in the beginning of the match because I knew that he can come back, you know. He can make you work, and that’s what happened.
    But I think that there are a few games towards the end of the second set. I could have done the job earlier. I just stopped working with my legs. It happens, you know, as I said, especially in the opening matches where you try to find your game and see where you stand on this court.
    Because coming from Dubai, it’s a huge difference in the speed of the court. At least on center court it’s even slower than the outside court where I practiced. Dubai is one of the fastest hard courts.

    http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=87273

    He’s just telling like it is. IW is muuuuch slower than Dubai so it was an adjustment for Djokovic whereas Fognini had played his last four events on clay.

    #NothingToSeeHereFolks

    Reply

  19. In the on court post match interview, Marin said it was the best tennis he’s ever played. It was also smart tennis. I was incredibly impressed at how he obviously had a strategy and then managed to execute it. He and his coach had worked on exploiting those blocked/chipped ROS that Roger uses. Whenever possible, you could see that he was also trying to keep Roger pinned into the backhand corner. When Roger came to the net, Marin was able to execute some great passing shots. On the second serve, Marin almost exclusively used a kick serve to Roger’s backhand, which also proved to be effective. And who knew that Marin had such a great ROS? Many of those returns were Novak-like, just inches from the baseline. Most importantly, he kept it together mentally. He knew the crowd would be overwhelmingly for Roger and he prepared himself for it, not letting it get to him. A most impressive performance.
    I also want to add that while I’ve never been a great Roger fan, I appreciate and respect everything he’s done for the game. He is, indeed, a great champion and has, and will continue to be, a tremendous asset to the sport. I felt a little sadness watching him, knowing that while he is still playing well, he’s in decline and his playing days are numbered. I’ve always felt this way about watching any sporting great decline. I know it’s inevitable and that Father Time beats all, but the inevitability of it doesn’t soften the blow.

    Reply

    • @jpacnw,

      I salute you for a great post! So well said! I loved your analysis of Cilic’s strategy in the match. I didn’t know that he had such a good ROS. I heard him talk in an earlier interview a day or so ago, about the changes to his service motion. That certainly paid dividends. But he has the shots to go with that big serve. I was so proud of him for keeping it together mentally when the crowd was so much against him.

      But my favorite part of your post was what you said about Fed I really appreciate you putting it so well. I don’t have to like Fed at all, but I absolutely respect what he has done in this sport. It’s funny but I also had that little bit of sadness that even surprised me. Because I really wanted him to lose this match. But I’ve had it before and you put your finger on it – watching a great player decline in the twilight of his career, is never easy. I’ve seen other greats go through it.

      I remember watching a match on youtube between Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg. I think it was in 1976, when Borg was still a teenager who recently burst on the scene. By that time, Laver was about 36 and in decline. I think the tournament was in South Carolina, I’m not sure. But it was shocking to see a young Borg just dismantle Laver. It was the changing of the guard. I always saw Laver as invincible. But he was quite human as he went down to defeat easily.

      As you said, it’s hard to see. I appreciate your ability to get beyond the fandom and understand what it must be like to no longer be what you once were.

      Reply

    • Wow, Boris said that with a straight face. I suppose there is some truth to it, about Rafa not being there to bring the best out of Djoker… but still, before he can meet Rafa at any tournament he has to get through his entire draw first… is it just the prospect of having a math with Rafa possibly lined up that allows him to play his best? I think this is just one more excuse among others Boris was giving, while fiddling nervously with his fingers. I’ve said this before: Novak worked very hard to get to his level of tennis… yet ever since his magical 2011 he does not seem taken seriously or put into practice the notion of always working as hard and intelligently to come as close as possible to your potential… I haven’t seen that from him all these last years… effort yes, but all out effort from the notion that that is what it takes to get to your best and stay at your best no matter what the competition is doing … no. Ergo not many slams won since 2011. Boris, are you listening? Can you teach Djoker the best type of humility? Oh wait, BB, what do you say, not your thing?

      #shame

      Reply

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