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
[polldaddy poll=10051625]
(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
[polldaddy poll=10051620]
WYG?
Djoko in four; Isner in four or five.
Djokovic will probably get a walkover due Kei’s health.
Isner will win in 4 and probably get broken 6 times against Federer in the Semis.
Fed would break him once per set AT MOST
It’s 1 AM here and bad dream is exactly how it feels. Nightmarish for poor Kei (Djokovic in 3 if not a walkover). Isner-Mahut had an eerie fascination for me, as for many. I remember starting to watch it at about 5 all in the 5th, just for something to do before the match I wanted to watch started. It became the match that would not end and it was not a good match, but it was compelling. Just wondering what kept them going long after there was any hope that the winner would be able to win his next match. Sheer stubborness? Refusal to give in? Eventually, the glory of being the winner of the longest match ever?
Djokovic in 4
Raonic in 4
Djoker and Isner in four
The Big dawg!!!…in 3.
Sport
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic face Wimbledon Centre Court dilemma
10 Jul 2018 07:04PM
LONDON: Novak Djokovic insists it’s only fair that he should play his Wimbledon quarter-final on Centre Court on Wednesday (Jul 11), handing the All England Club a dilemma over relegating Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to Court One.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new…- … a-10517376
Djokovic in 3 because he is a slightly better player right now and a better grass court player. Also has a 12-2 H2H advantage.
Raonic in 5 with at least two tiebreakers
Could go either way, and it really depends on who is serving well. I’m expecting at least two tiebreakers, and possibly more.
The Wimbledon crowd just isn’t ever going to cheer for Djokovic. They’re applauding his errors at the moment. Maybe they’re huge Nishi fans, but it feels more like they just don’t much like Nole.
Really Cheryl? I hadn’t noticed particularly. The wimby crowd routinely cheers for the underdog unless it’s fed or Murray..
I really hope nishi wins the first set…
That was poor by nishi to get broken..
well, they’re certainly not the US Open or French crowd…but it feels pretty partisan out there at the moment.
So Nole takes the first set! Feel that nishi had to take the first set to have any real chance…
He’s donating too many points right now to be a factor in this match.
Cheryl i am English but I am often critical of the wimby crowd. I was very rude about them during the Edmund match. I have often seen them root for whomever is playing against Nole but they do that a lot with the top players and cheer for the player they perceive as the underdog. Having said that brexit Britain is a nastier and more xenophobic place than it used to be..hence some of the behaviour in the Edmund match.
Hmm. I hadn’t thought of Brexit being a factor…but now that I think about it, it makes sense. They were HORRIFIC during the Edmund match, but I feel they would have been no matter who Edmund was playing (except possibly Federer).
Brexit is similar to trump as a phenomenon..it empowers petty and ugly behaviour!
Yes and I love it that Trump won’t go to London for fear of the masses of people coming out to protest against him.
I am a member of Stop Trump and Avaaz who are organising the mass protests against him! The best symbol is the Trump baby balloon flying over London and authorised by the musli m mayor Sadiq Khan!!
People are now even knitting trump babies!!
Go Amy!!!
testing
What r u testing j?Where’s RC?Don’t tell me she’s not well coz her backside got kick so bad by MJME in ATP Bracket!…hehehehehawhawhaw!!
Someone decided they didn’t want ratcliff posting MA hahahaha
Hehehehe….U too??Now u know how i felt when i can’t posting as MA on WTA thread j!!…What is wrong hah?It’s weird right?
Must have some kind of flip to switch – not trusting ratcliff to behave 😀 seriously weird.
Well this is my match! I love both players. If the crowd is partisan I hope Novak wins in straights and shuts them up.
Go Nole!
And this thread would not allow me to post as ratcliff hahahaha
So I suspect there must be some truth to Mira Andi’s complaint on the WTA thread.
I tried to post at least 3 times as ratcliff – short posts too. No go.
Haa!…It’s soooo frustrating right?After we typed a long post & then it didn’t got through!…Urgh!!
I wasn’t typing a long post tho. That what’s funny.
Yeah j!…Long post @ short,it’s still didn’t get thru’!…That’s exactly what happened to me the other day!…
It’s an experiment. I’ll go to another thread and see if ratcliff can post.
Brilliant point! whistles!
Anderson much better in 2nd sets…Now!there’s a competition!…Also now i understood why Lucky said Fed’s match always boring…Coz his opponents can’t match his high level…
While Novak/Kei’s match r awesome!!…I had to switch between these 2 matches relentlessly…Hope my TV will not xplode from working so hard!..
Have yet to check on Anderson/Federer, MA. I don’t like Anderson tennis. So…I’d root for Federer in that one.
But the Rafa v Delpo match will be tough for me…I don’t like watching Delpo get slaughtered.
Oh just heard commies say Fed Anderson in a TB lol
Anderson wasted a break over & over again RC!…As expected!…
About Rafa/DelPo,hehe..i don’t think he’s going to get slaughtered RC!…But i think Rafa will win in 3 or 4 at the most…
Yeah. that’s what I think also Rafa in 3 or 4. Or…slaughtered lol
😫
I mean, anyone playing Kevin Anderson in 2018 on grass is pretty much guaranteed to go to a tiebreak at least once… Especially with how relatively quick and higher-bouncing the courts are playing, it helps the massive servers. As if they need any help with their serve!
Indeed Kevin. I’m not watching that match but hope Federer win.
Oh goodness Nole giving ump the business. But I didn’t hear why.
Amazing how well Kei is playing with an injured elbow! I meant it – he saved something in the tank for this special match 🙂
When Kei gets in a groove, he’s so good. Half Volley perfectly hit from the baseline. As I said I love both but I hope it doesn’t go 5 sets.
Oh it’s the Duchess of Cornwall in the box – looking very good, I think.
Kei will not let serving for the set get away. He’s going to get clutch here. But so will Nole…
Rooting for Kei to get a set! Yes….
Kei Nishikori absolutely clutch when he needed to be. Subtle and patient gets it.
What do u think of Nole’s form so far RC?
He’s not as relaxed as Kei. I don’t know if he let the ump and crowd get to him. Nole should dial into what he needs to do and start making his shots. He had to see that Kei just took pain killers.
Looks like Nole heard u RC!!…3 sets very possibly his soon…
i meant 3rd sets!..hehehe
Big Momentum shift. Nole getting in his groove. This third set should go Nole’s way – if he can. Yes, he can.
If you want me to predict anything RafaNole….eh no, I won’t.
This is the quarters and none of the players look crisp so far! I hope Rafa comes out all guns blazing! Or else!
Nole was good the first set but he let stuff get to him.
Kei is being the most crispy atm, Monalisa.
Well he was until I typed it
lol! there r so many momentum swings atm!
But it will be what it will be!
Cant believe Kei was 0:40 and couldn’t convert, and of course got broken next game, smh!!
Kei is feeling it in a good way with a clear, patient head making those selections and executing. He looks like he wants to go 5 sets – lots of energy.
Come on Nole, !@#$ get going. Fight!
Not gonna lie…. It would not be a good look for Nole if he lost to Kei on grass, especially a unhealthy Kei on grass. Don’t get me wrong, Kei is an amazing player, and he has beaten Nole at a major before! But Kei has never good at all on grass, especially not at Wimbledon. And Nole is a 3-time champ.
Nole has absolutely made strides in getting back to his former self, but he’s still only about 70% of how good he was before, in my opinion. Compared to how he looked the last year, Nole has looked really solid this fortnight so far. But he’s got to win the matches that he should win if he wants to get back to normal.
I still think Nole will win this match in the end, but it looks like it will be a dog fight for him.
I don’t believe Kei is as injured as he was. And it’s no shame to lose to a crispy Kei. This is a fun one.
Nole will prevail, I think… Kevin.
You’re right, Jalep, that there shouldn’t be shame in losing to Kei, at least not when compared with losing to some like Cecchinato.
But there’s no question that Kei wouldn’t even get a set off Novak at Wimbledon pre-2017. Anywhere else, sure. But not at Wimby. And I just feel like if he is going to take that next step toward being back to Slam glory, he at least needs to beat all the guys who he normally would be heavily favored over. He’s been doing that this fortnight so far! And if he can beat Kei here, then he will have taken a little step forward. Then if he could manage to beat Rafa/Del Po to make the Final, then that would be a HUGE step! In fact, that would mean that he was arguably “back”.
I’m not one of those people who thinks that Novak will just never win a major again in his career. We’ve seen Fed and Rafa overcome everyone doubting they would ever win again, so I’ve learned my lesson that you just can never, ever count out all-time greats.
mmm… I see. I’m not one of your people, Kevin lol
I see Nole winning another GS at least one. Not perhaps this one but certainly another AO. He’s still getting his game and his confidence back and yeah a win over this Kei will help. A win over Rafa and Federer is maybe a ways off.
I picked Nole to win the whole thing knowing it was likely premature.
If you think that Nole will win more majors, then wouldn’t that mean that you ARE one of my people haha? 🙂
It’s good, mental match fighting tennis from both atm. Kei striking the ball very crisp – and wants that break back