Season in review: Nishikori is an unbelievable 52-12 this year. Only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have more wins at the expense of fewer losses in 2014. It can be argued that five of his 12 setbacks were due–at least in part–to either extreme fatigue or injury. Regardless, Nishikori has been awesome from start to finish this season. Early results included a semifinal showing in Miami, a 500-point title in Barcelona, and a runner-up finish at the Madrid Masters.
Of course, Japan’s best player ever really started to take off at the U.S. Open. A remarkable, physically-demanding run took him all the way to the final. From there–despite getting steamrolled by Marin Cilic–he has never looked back. Nishikori captured back-to-back titles in Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo before securing his place in London with a dramatic three-set victory over David Ferrer in the Paris quarterfinals.
2014 record: 52-12
Fall record (post-U.S. Open): 12-2
Best tournament: U.S. Open final
d. Wayne Odesnik 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
d. Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-1, ret.
d. Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
d. Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4
d. Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-4
d. Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
l. to Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Biggest win at different tournament: d. Roger Federer 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in Miami quarterfinals
World Tour Finals appearances: 0
World Tour Finals record: 0
Record against other World Tour Finals qualifiers: 17-14
vs. Novak Djokovic: 2-2
vs. Roger Federer: 2-2*
vs. Stan Wawrinka: 1-2
vs. Andy Murray: 0-3*
vs. Tomas Berdych: 3-1
vs. Milos Raonic: 4-1*
vs. Marin Cilic: 5-3
*denotes in the same group
Quotable: “I might get nervous (because it’s my) first time, but I’ll try to play my best tennis and try not to think too much of it being the Tour Finals. It’s a great achievement to play in the Finals. Last year I started thinking about playing there, so it will be really great. Beating Novak in the U.S. Open semifinals was a great experience and gave me a lot of confidence. So for sure I know I have a chance to beat the top players…. I have [a] chance to win some matches.”
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Whichever way you look at it, Kei’s year has been awesome with a Slam final, two Masters finals and 9 wins over top 10 players. He has answered the questions hanging over his stamina with his run at the USO and more recently in Paris. However any prediction for him will probably always carry the rider ‘subject to being injury free’.
His opening match with Murray will be interesting to say the least. If Murray has recovered from his intensive six weeks of play it will be a cat ‘n’ mouse battle but with Murray prevailing. Ditto Federer. His best chance will come against Raonic.
Nishikori RR stage 1:2