It will be a rematch of the 2014 U.S. Open final–and of the recent Basel title match–when Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic conclude round-robin competition at the World Tour Finals on Friday night.
Nishikori is leading the head-to-head series 7-5, including 6-4 on hard courts. Cilic, however, has won both of their previous encounters this season. The Croat was cruising 6-1, 5-1 in the Wimbledon fourth round when his opponent retired and he got the job done 6-1, 7-6(5) to triumph in Basel last month.
That was a huge result in Cilic’s effort to qualify for London, and his spot in the year-end championship became a certainty thanks to a semifinal run at the Paris Masters one week later. The world No. 7 was one of the hottest players on tour heading into this prestigious event, but things have gone south in a hurry. Cilic opened with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Andy Murray before succumbing to Stan Wawrinka 7-6(3), 7-6(3) on Wednesday night.
Nishikori, on the other hand, is in the midst of an impressive London campaign. The world No. 5 crushed Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3 and then lost a 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-4 thriller to Murray that lasted three hours and 20 minutes on Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m going to definitely enjoy the match against Kei,” Cilic commented. “I want to obviously step up a little bit my game. I’m feeling that my tennis is not far from being on a good level. So that’s another good match against a great player to have.”
Cilic is out of contention no matter what, but the result of Friday’s opening match between Murray and Wawrinka could throw a wrench into this one. If Murray prevails, Nishikori will already be through to the semifinals and this becomes a dead rubber for both men. If Wawrinka upsets the world No. 1, Nishikori will have to beat Cilic in order to advance.
The chances are good, of course, that Murray emerges victorious–in which case Nishikori can conserve energy in the aftermath of his marathon on Wednesday (which was the longest best-of-three hard-court match this season). If the Japanese star does not dominate right of the start, and he is unlikely to do so based on how Cilic played against Wawrinka, he may not be ready for another extensive battle.
Pick: Cilic in 3
[polldaddy poll=9582183]
WWW?
I agree, Cilic in three. Cilic would like to salvage some pride and this will be his last chance at this WTF. Kei may be tired from that 3+hrs match he had with Murray.
I’ll wait for the outcome of the Murray match.
If Murray loses, I’ll take Kei.
Tougher decision if Murray loses.
We gonna see, for sure, no?
#DumpTrump
+1 to your entire post, Hawk.
Leif Shiras: “Michael Chang getting Kei Nishikori ready for big-serving Croatian Marin Cilic”:
https://twitter.com/LShirock/status/799311786277212160/photo/1
🙂
Thanks augusta, lol. It makes me wonder the usual about perspective.
If CryBaby Wah Wah beats Murray in two and Nishi beats Cilic, then Murray will be eliminated.
What about if Stan beats Andy in 3, and how about the other scenarios/permutations: Kei in 2 or 3; Cilic in 2 or 3 ? ?
Damn rc, I ain’t no super computer!!!
But I do know that Cilic is out.
Sorry I was being lazy, Hawk. Thanks, I just looked it up, too. Cilic is indeed out because of his under-performance in sets and games per W/L count. Andy is mainly playing for position in the Group, which determines who plays whom in the SF. Although as you mentioned, Andy could still be eliminated!
None of the three left are in full control of their own fate, which makes it more exciting atm.
Tiggy made his picks in favor of Stan and Kei winning tomorrow but left out # of sets he’s picking:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/11/kei-nishikori-marin-cilic-stan-wawrinka-andy-murray-atp-tour-finals/62484/
Bye, bye 2016 for Dominic Thiem.
Here are all the permutations rc…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxfxR42UcAAOn35.jpg
Oh Nice chart, hawks 😀
I made it myself!
#NotReally
Cilic in three
With this being a dead match now that Andy’s won, this becomes a much more difficult pick.
Will Nishi sit back and rest for the semis knowing he’s up against an in-form Djokovic, or will he take the bird in the hand approach.
With the almost $200K and 200 points on the line, it’s not really a dead match.
I’m going to stick with Nishi in three.
Well, I’d rather Kei skip the points and money for this win if it means he’ll be more fit for the SF. The prospect of facing Novak in the SF is daunting — and making the WTF isn’t such a big deal because it is something Kei has done before. As a Kei fan I’ll be rooting for him to beat Novak and make the final. My hope is for Andy to get YE #1 and win here.
Novak has lost the weirdness and improved everything since Shanghai. It ain’t going to be easy. I fully accept that this could be Nole ole’s time to take back #1. People don’t want to hear it but underestimate him at your own peril!
Ajde Nole!
#NovakForPrez
#VoteForPedro
#DumpTrump
I’m fence sitting 😀 the view is good from here.
What’s yer pick rc?
#DumpTrump
Voted Kei in 3. But that was so long ago! Cilic might be motivated to ride a confidence win into the Davis Cup.
hawks,
#brunchwithbernie
#feelthebern
#YouveBeenGinsburned
I can see Nishi going out to win this match. I will go with him in 3 sets.
If Kei plays the way he played against Murray, he’ll win in straight sets. I think he will do just that as he won’t want to waste energy to win it the hard way. I feel Kei wants this win if he wants the no.3 ranking.