Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori will be facing each other for the 10th time in their careers and one of the two will take complete control of Group A at the World Tour Finals when they clash inside the O2 Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
Murray leads the head-to-head series 7-2, but Nishikori won their most recent showdown 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 in a U.S. Open quarterfinal stunner. This marks their second career meeting at the year-end championship in London, where Nishikori won the opening match of the 2014 tournament via a 6-4, 6-4 decision.
The good news for Murray, however, is that he has never been hotter heading into the World Tour Finals. He reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career last week thanks mostly to winning an incredible seven of his last nine tournaments. The Scot is an amazing 74-9 for the season following a 6-3, 6-2 beatdown of Marin Cilic on Monday night.
Nishikori’s struggles since upsetting Murray at the U.S. Open include a loss to Cilic in the Basel title match. He also pulled out of his second match in Tokyo with an injury and blew two match points in the Paris third round against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Some rest, however, was just what the doctor ordered for the world No. 5 and he disposed of Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3 at the O2 on Monday afternoon.
“I didn’t see the match, but he obviously must have played very well,” Murray said of Nishikori’s victory over Wawrinka. “To win against a player like Stan with that scoreline–I don’t think Stan had really any chances on Kei’s serve, either…. I would say this is probably his best year that he’s had on the tour. He’s one of the best players in the world. He’s been playing very well the last few months, especially.”
Nobody, though, has come close to Murray’s level the last few months. And while the year-end world No. 1 ranking could all come down to a final between Murray and Djokovic on Sunday, there is a chance that each round-robin match will be critical in determining that race. The crowd favorite looked focused and motivated in his opener on Monday, and that should continue in this one.
Pick: Murray in 2
[polldaddy poll=9580156]
Murray in two
likely
Faster conditions should help Nishi power his FH through the court.
Nishi to win at least a set.
Murray for the win in three.
Yes, I hope Kei can make it competitive. H2H 7-2 Andy. But what I noticed is that in BO2, they’ve never gone 3 sets, so maybe it’s time. Kei made it close by winning 2 sets the last time they played DC – and beat Andy in 5 sets at USO.
Andy in 2. But hope it’s 3 🙂
Revenge match. Murray in 2.
Nish in 3
Andy in two.
Don’t know what Murray is doing out there. Well, what a point he saved in the TB, winning it from a losing position with all his running and retrieving. But, why in the first place playing such a counterpunching, grinding game when he can play a more offensive one and save himself some energy? I mean 1+ hours for one set? Why?
Nishi wins at least one set.
Congrats to Me!
And me hawk! I have nish in 3 today
Great pick. I was tempted to take Nishi but went Andy in three.
Nishi is more than capable at his best.
Like a true champ though, Murray broke in the first game of the 2nd set.
Hawk, you know how to pick Kei! Congrats!
Kei had many opportunities to take control of the set, but in the end still got it done. Go kei.
I’ve seen this film before. Murray will win in the end.
It’s on the tennis channel. Murray up a break in the second set.
Nishi looking going out there at the moment.
Kei broke back.
Absolute garbage from Murray, worst ive seen him play in a long time.
This is really something!
Set point Murray!
Murray evens it up by winning the second set.
Well it’s their first match in a BO3 that Kei got a set. Happy for Andy. Always sad for Kei when he loses to Novak or Andy. They are just too good for Kei in nearly all cases.
I had Murray at 3, so got that right. The match was about 3 1/2 hours long, so Murray could be exhausted for his next match. Kei as well.
Murray in three!
Congrats to Me!
Goffin in for Monfils (WD) vs Nole.
Nole will sneeze Goffin off the court in two easy peazy lemon squeezy.