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Nishikori Is Going To Win Majors, I Guarantee It
23 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
The first time I saw Kei Nishikori was when he won Delray Beach over James Blake in 2008. It was clear to see, the poise, the rhythm, the movement, the weapons, the manners. It just took a few years to mature.
I said then he will be a top five player.
Rafa Nadal also said not long after that Kei has the game, and the easy playing style that will make him reach the top ten or even five. (Steve Tignor just posted the exact quote and date on Twitter.)
But Rafa may revise that estimation after the first set of the Madrid final which he lost to this Japanese magician, 6-2.
Yesterday’s spectacular semifinal win over David Ferrer was probably the most important win of Nishikori’s career. Ferrer put up a valiant battle at the end, fighting off nine or ten match points. But Nishikori was up to the task. He withstood the brutal barrage of Ferrer and finally closed it out 76 57 75.
This was the kind of monumental win that can transform a player into a Grand Slam champion.
There are two other factors which are elevating Nishikori this year into an elite player: the presence of Michael Chang, the former French Open champ and ATP world No. 2. And the new, high intensity fitness program Nishikori started at the end of last season, which his agent Olivier van Lindonk told me about in Miami. Nishikori has demonstrated with his Miami and Madrid wins over Ferrer and the three set win over Federer in Miami, that he may actually be the fittest player on the Tour along with Novak Djokovic. I think it’s safe to say he’s slightly surpassed Ferrer.
Everything is coming together now for this wondrous Japanese marvel. And, in my opinion, the very best is still yet to come.
Quotes about Kei:
“Nishikori is much more offensive earlier in his career than Chang was.” – Justin Gimelstob
“The question is, how good can he become?” – Justin Gimelstob
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23 comments
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Mitch · May 11, 2014 at 3:21 pm
I spoke too soon in the other thread, Kei clearly still has durability issues. He can win a Masters, but hard to see him winning a slam if he has to play grueling best of 5 set matches.
gustarhymes · May 11, 2014 at 3:46 pm
I don’t believe in players under 6 feet winning multiple majors in the modern era! He’s a one slam wonder at best. Kei’s game froma technical standpoint is perfect. But size and strength and fitness matter. I’ll take that bet anyday Scoop.
?Surpass Ferrer? Not yet. Kei has to get to a major final first or win a Masters. He might surpass Ferrer by getting a single major, which is the best he can do.
Gusta
Doogie · May 11, 2014 at 4:31 pm
With Nole and Fed out and Murray struggling huge I was quite sure we have a “NEW” grand slam winner here on this forum after this week.
Who will it be after Rome masters?
Dolgo, Cilic, Ferrer or who??
But one thing is true:
The era in which 4 players dominating the ATP tour are over and draws are more open!
Kei chances to win GS??
The same as Berdch, Waw, DelPotro or T.Johansson. With same nice draw all is possible at this stage.
I am quite sure Kei will not be Top3 for a long time because he does not get enough easy points with his serve and his shots lacks of power to shoot someone off the court.
His style is too exhausting and his body is not Rafalike. Even in this best of 3 matches at 1000events his body let him down (and often does so).
His technique on groundstrokes is awesome btw!
Scoop Malinowski · May 11, 2014 at 7:22 pm
Very strange conclusion to the final today. Nishikori seemed to stop playing when Rafa pushed his maximum/crazed/insanefury button in that eighth game in the second set. Nishikori didn’t seem to want to fight. I know everyone is talking about the injury but I saw something in Kei that backed down from that fight. That he was content with showing that he can beat Ferrer and Rafa on red clay in Spain without going all the way and finishing the job. Like it was too soon to pull off a miracle like this. Wait till later. I like being the hunter not the hunted. Could be wrong. Rafa definitely stepped it up and Kei didn’t, couldn’t, or didn’t want to. He had victory in his grasp but gave it back. It was very very weird. Maybe having the full house of Madrid against him and for Rafa also affected Kei. Intriguing match. As far as the back injury, who knows maybe it was real unfortunate timing or maybe it was a way out of the battle.
Scoop Malinowski · May 11, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Dr Gustar, I believe they said Kei is 4-3 vs. Ferrer.
Scoop Malinowski · May 11, 2014 at 7:25 pm
Doogie, sounds like you didn’t see this final of Rafa Kei, the stunning aspect today was the winners Kei was hitting. He was making Rafa look helpless at times. Astonishing display by Kei.
gustarhymes · May 11, 2014 at 7:29 pm
For Kei to surpass Ferrer, he must beat the people Ferrer can beat, beat the people Ferrer can’t beat, and have greater achievements. A head to head alone does not do it.
gusta
CS3 · May 11, 2014 at 9:33 pm
I am very impressed with the talent that Nishikori possesses… He is rapidly ascending up the ranks of the world’s top players… IF his body can hold up, the sky is indeed the limit for how far he can go… Rafa won today’s match & was the recipient of the Madrid Masters Title more by default than by actually beating Nishikori, who was overwhelming him for most of the match… I respect the battle that Nishikori put up while he could & I do feel bad for him that he was unable to achieve a CAREER DEFINING & ELEVATING VICTORY/TITLE due to those kind of circumstances… I will just say though that even when Kei was in control, there were expressions on his face that showed doubt & like Scoop referred to, uncertainty about just how much he wants to endure against Rafa… Rafa, as he pretty much always does, battled just hard enough to hang around & eventually seize the opportunity to take control, which definitely was assisted by Nishikori physically breaking down then subsequently mentally wilting… To beat Rafa on red clay in a match of that magnitude does in fact require SUFFERING: mind, body & soul… I give Kei all the credit in the world & he’s definitely another rising, young talent on the ATP Tour who is a legitimate Grand Slam & Masters 1000 series title contender from this point forward!
Andrew Miller · May 12, 2014 at 1:05 am
Nishikori can probably get to a major final with the right draw. And he would have to wawrinka it. It is possible if he serves well and gets more cheap points. This made a difference for agassi – probably the biggest difference as agassis serve wasn’t amazing and not textbook but he could place it and his speed was pretty good. Obviously he does need to schedule better and take a page out of other top player play books.
EddietheEagle · May 12, 2014 at 4:26 am
Have you never played a match and felt your back go? He clearly had an issue with it, and in his semi against Ferrer as well. If it suddenly goes and you can’t get to certain balls that you could before or exert yourself beyond a certain point then you’re not going to win and that’s it. Until then he was all over Nadal who had basically given up the ghost almost. Up to that point I thought Nadal was poorer than Murray was in his match against Giraldo and that’s saying something.
Doogie · May 12, 2014 at 6:02 am
No – I did not see his match against Rafa but I saw his matches against Ferrer and Fed in Miami.
Kei has one huge (!!) weapon and it is working very well against them: It is his backhand crosscourt. He has so much angle and lenght on it – he can put so much pressure with this shot on opponents who struggle with their BH (or give lot of room to hit there like Rafa).
I saw his match vs Haas too who has one of best BH on tour too. Kei had problems to build his points other than this BH crosscourt and lost it quickly.
@scoop:
Dont forget that Madrid is one of fastest tournaments on tour (despite the clay surface). It is more a less indoors and Madrid is on very high sea level. It has to be said that it is quicker to play than 3 grandslams (not SW19).
I believe he has to fight too hard in 7 grandslam matches to win it in the end. He needs to give his shots more power – he is young he should be able to.
Scoop Malinowski · May 12, 2014 at 7:04 am
CS3, Nishikori is a quirky guy. While he’s killing you he waddles around the court like a kid, that quick tug on his shirt, the facial expressions of being tired. He’s almost meek. There’s no in your face fire and intensity. Kei is also silent as a churchmouse when he’s carving you up. Not a single grunt or scream from Kei. While Rafa was making all the noise, like his life was on the line. Kei is amazing. And yesterday he was the better player than Rafa. But Rafa wanted it more. Desire hunger and wanting it count for so much. On talent Kei was more impressive. He needs to WANT IT more. That’s the missing piece of his puzzle. And being so wealthy from all his endorsement deals, you have to wonder if Kei will find that extraordinary “hunger” … to want it EVEN MORE than Rafa.
Scoop Malinowski · May 12, 2014 at 7:09 am
Eddie, no I never hurt my back in a tennis match and Kei is a lot fitter and younger than I. Where was the back problem for the first set and a half vs. Rafa? Then all the sudden that really long rally in the key point of the 43 game, it seemed like Kei tapped out after losing it. He wasn’t up for a bloodbath brawl with Rafa. Just my take. Only a few players are up to engaging in a bloodbath brawl with Rafa – Murray, Djokovic, but sometimes even they tap out too and can’t endure the suffering. Rafa is a very very freakish competitor.
Scoop Malinowski · May 12, 2014 at 7:13 am
Doogie, we all said the same thing about Djokovic’s stamina but he took it to the next level. Kei has shown he has superhuman stamina – the two wins over Ferrer this year are evidence. And following up the Ferrer win this week by dominating RAfa for a set and a half the next day bodes well for Kei. But he has to keep working and building his fitness foundation.
Doogie · May 12, 2014 at 7:49 am
true scoop! I said it too about Nole but at this point I did not know that Nole is such a hard fighter on/off court.
Lot of coaches say Nole (and Rafa) are doing EVERYTHING to improve. In their life there is only tennis and Djoko is really practicing ultra hard. I hope for him that this does not change after he gets father.
I believe Kei has not such will as Nole – talentwise he is probably one step higher. But more important is the fighting offcourt ( I mean in practice).
Doogie · May 12, 2014 at 7:52 am
BTW off topic:
I wrote earlier this week US Boys are too weak for european tournaments on clay.
SamQ, Sock and Bogomolov failed to qualify for Rome.
Only Q with ONE win over Nr.354
Danm · May 12, 2014 at 8:00 am
Bogie isn’t a U.S. boy anymore.
I go with the camp that Kei’s back really did turn for the worse at 4-3 up in the second set. There was one point in that game after a long rally where he was limping.
Kei’s forehand is a thing of beauty. He can rifle it inside-out and inside in when running around the backhand. He’s also exceptionally fast. He had Nadal yesterday and maybe Doogie is right, that the court speed was what aided Kei, but Nadal didn’t look that formidable a player. I think Nole is licking his lips when watching that match.
U.S. men’s performance so far on European clay has been dismal and it doesn’t look like it’ll pick up.
EddietheEagle · May 12, 2014 at 8:05 am
Scoop, Nishikori’s back went in the second set. He felt something and that was it basically. It didn’t respond to massage. Up to then he was imperious as Nadal was being seriously dismantled. I’ve never seen Nadal look and play so lamentably poor as he was for a set and a bit in this match.
The thing I noticed about Nishikori is what seems to be his zen-like calm. He doesn’t over-react or get over-emotive. He stays positive and calm. I think that’s the best way of keeping in the zone when you’re playing well, not veering off course too much. Also, for a player who isn’t exactly a modern tennis prototype, I think he does produce sufficient power, particularly on backhand and serve. One weakness I thought was his forehand which looked a bit wayward especially when closing out. That last game against Ferrer comes to mind. How many match points was it?
Scoop Malinowski · May 12, 2014 at 8:12 am
Nine or ten MPs Eddie. The calm works against most but not against Raging Rafa. You have to step up the intensity vs. Raging Rafa. Raging Rafa amped up his fury in that 43 game and Kei wilted. I think Kei felt the heat and got out of the kitchen. I have never seen any player withstand Raging Rafa when Raging Rafa turns up his heat full blast. To beat Rafa, Kei has to step out of that Zen calm mode, it’s not going to be enough to slay Raging Rafa. Borg was a Zen calm guy. But Borg would have been eaten alive by Raging Rafa. Federer is a Zen calm guy. Look what happens to Fed vs. Rafa. Djokovic turns up the heat though, Djokovic can raise his intensity to match Raging Rafa.
Abe Froman · May 12, 2014 at 10:19 am
IMO – kei’s at only 75-80% of his potential….still needs to tinker a few areas of his game before he has a legit shot at a slam…..prlly 1 or maybe 2 tops but cant realistically see him rise higher…this year’s RG could be exciting IF, all of the revitalized contenders show up / rise up tot he occasion….otherwise – it’ll be rafa as usual….btw, i think that djoko is a piece o’shate for ploying ‘oww my wrist’ crap…LOL
2014 RG favourites : rafa, wawa, fed, djoko, yakidori, ferrer and the berdman..
bjk · May 12, 2014 at 3:46 pm
There’s no reason KN should be playing Barcelona and then Madrid. Sure, he’s hot and picked up a ton of points, but with his body and history of injuries, he’s got to space it out.
Andrew Miller · May 12, 2014 at 10:44 pm
Like bjk said if Kei wants a top five spot he needs to schedule like a top five player that isn’t Ferrer. be smart with his schedule.
Rafa isn’t looking like Roland garros champ that he is . the intimidation factor is there but it is not impossible to beat him on dirt. It is only very unlikely. If today were the French final and if wawrinka was in it I would have to pick stan based on nadals bad form. Even on a fast Madrid court. Seeing nadal throw in the town is uncommon. Maybe he and xisca are having issues or something like that. He hasn’t seemed himself since the year started and the clay didn’t change that ! If he is beat on the clay this will have the same feeling that was at Wimbledon in 2008 with nadal beating federer. Sure it is unlikely but this whole year has been ugly tennis from nadal that is a far cry from his normal standard (,superhuman but he is looking like a past champ now!).
He could hoist the trophy but he is looking like someone who wants a break.
Scoop Malinowski · May 13, 2014 at 9:17 am
bjk, there was a week off between Barcelona and Madrid, that should have been enough recovery time for Nishikori.