Familiar foes Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori will face each other again the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Wednesday. In what is a sure to a huge-serving affair with perhaps no breaks, John Isner and Milos Raonic will battle for a semifinal spot.
(12) Novak Djokovic vs. (24) Kei Nishikori
Djokovic and Nishikori will be squaring off for the 16th time in their careers and for the third time in the last two months when they clash in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at a dominant 13-2 in favor of Djokovic, who recently defeated Nishikori on clay in both Madrid and Rome. He is an incredible 12-0–and 25-4 in total sets–since getting stunned by the Japanese veteran in the semis of the 2014 U.S. Open. They have never met on grass, which is not too surprising because Nishikori rarely plays any Wimbledon warmup events and this marks the first time he has ever done any real damage at the All-England Club.
Nishikori earned a spot in his first quarterfinal at this tournament by beating Christian Harrison, Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, and Ernests Gulbis. The world No. 28 survived a roller-coaster four-setter against Gulbis on Monday in which both players struggled physically (Nishikori with his recurring right-elbow problems). Djokovic has mostly coasted so far this fortnight, defeating Tennys Sandgren, Horacio Zeballos, Kyle Edmund, and Karen Khachanov while surrendering just one set to Edmund. The 21st-ranked Serb appears to be taking his 2018 comeback to new heights, with a 16-3 record in his last 19 matches after going 6-6 through his first 12. Based on current form, Nishikori’s questionable health, and their past head-to-head history, this could be one-way traffic for Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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(13) Milos Raonic vs. (9) John Isner
If not for the famous 70-68 in the fifth match between Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, Wednesday’s quarterfinal contest between Isner and Raonic would have a chance to break records in terms of length. Aces, holds, and tiebreakers will be the story in this one, and it could go on just about forever if it requires a fifth set. Nothing about their head-to-head history is surprising, as seven of nine sets–including each of the last five–have required tiebreakers. Isner leads the head-to-head series 3-1 and he has won their only two non-tiebreak sets (at the 2012 Toronto Masters and the 2013 Cincinnati Masters).
Neither huge server could have been considered a favorite to make it this far when the draw was revealed. Raonic is a former Wimbledon runner-up (2016), but his health has been an issue for the past few seasons and he found himself in the same section of the bracket as a red-hot Marin Cilic. The 32nd-ranked Canadian has advanced by beating Liam Broady, John Millman, and Mackenzie McDonald. Isner had previously been just 10-9 lifetime at this event and he had reached only one Grand Slam quarterfinal in his entire career (2011 U.S. Open). The 10th-ranked American, however, also benefited from a favorable road in the section vacated early by Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka. He erased Yannick Maden, saved two match points against Ruben Bemelmans, surged past Radu Albot without playing a tiebreaker, and defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(8), 7-6(4) on Monday. A slight edge goes to Isner based on his superior form over the past four months and because he was not been broken a single time through his first four matches.
Pick: Isner in 4
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Go Nole!
😜 set points Nole go go go
Kev just saved a few match points to hold. If Fed ends up losing this set, he will regret those missed opportunities to finish in 3.
Oh dear, Keving. Not a good update.
oHHHH I shudder when Nole hits an overhead
And he’s still letting the ump and the booing get to him. That’s the trouble with Nole – he’s so aware of everything going on and I’m not sure it helps him. He has to make a case about it, instead he should be letting it go. Cahill disagrees with me – says it’s good for Nole. But I don’t like when Nole goes OTT.
I see that Nishi has been good enough to make a match out of it. Good to see he is playing well. I was concerned that he might be hampered with the elbow.
However, it looks like Novak has the advantage now after winning the third set.
OMG, after saving those match points, Kev broke Fed immediately after to serve for the set, and now Fed has 2 break-back pointsto send it to TB! Fed really must be struggling compared to his normal standard!
Maybe I change the channel Yikes
no i can’t. must see this one through to the end
And Kev takes the 3rd set 7-5!! Wow, that was a collection of huuge chokes by Fed in that set… He had multiple match points AND break back points, and squandered them all. Wow.
Well I did have Cilic taking out Fed – because I have my doubts about Fed. Fed better win in 4, if he’s going to win. Who does the winner play? My mind can’t remember
It’s another big server in Big John or Milos j deaaarrrrr!!…
Btw…Can i ask u a favour j??..
sure, I think? hehe
You want me to shut up? hahaha
I’m waiting…MA…for a bit, anyway.
Really need to go soon.
Yaaayyyy!!….Oh!back to my question…RC picked Cilic over Fed & DelPo over Rafa in TDC right?So,if u meet with RC,,would u please ask her to hold her a@# very tightly..it would be much better too if she can bind it tightly with rope…coz i’m afraid it’s going to be missing in a couple of days time…
And she should pay attention to my warning very seriously j!…Coz my cow MJME & FD’s a@# already gone in WTA Bracket..due to none other than endless kicking by the meaniest of people who showed no love towards a poor cow!….
Oh dear I waited for that LOL
Okay, and I know you picked a Fedal. That’s not looking good atm…Fed is about to pack up and fly home ✈️…if he doesn’t find a way in the 5th.
Oh give your cow a kiss from me, MA!
Ohohoho!!Yeah j!!…Hehehe…
Oh!..My cow sent u a kiss & hugs back j!!
Sorry, but at this stage in the tourney, Roger is not playing well!! Not imo!! His serves esp!
And his road won’t get easier – another giant server next up. Remembering it’s Isner or Raonic on that side.
Nole hitting the forehand very crisp! He holds. sigh… I don’t celebrate if Kei is injured.
It’s so amazing how when Fed/Rafa drop a set at Wimbledon/Roland Garros, it always means the sky is falling haha. That’s precedent these guys have set for themselves. Last year Fed won AO having dropped 7 sets, but it still feels like he’s totally screwed when he loses a set.
hahaha yep, Kevin
That was naughty. I thought Kei would hold serve but Nole broke to win the match.
Champion showing his colors 🤗
Congrats Nole! That was good, Darren Cahill liked it. “Brave in the big moments” he sais.