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Djokovic seals the win with another terrific crosscourt backhand and he proved far too solid tonight for Nishikori. The Japanese star didn’t help himself tonight as he committed a large amount of unforced errors at key moments.
Nishikori was up 3-1 in the third set with a break but constantly let Djokovic back in with unforced errors. Nishikori’s radar was not on tonight and he is eliminated as a result. Overall a disappointing effort.
Djokovic though now faces Federer in what should be another classic.
Nishikori 3 2 4
Djokovic 6 6 6
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic and 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori do battle in what should be a high-quality Australian Open quarter-final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:15pm (AEDT).
Having survived a five set scare against Gilles Simon in the fourth round, Djokovic should be expected to raise his game significantly against Nishikori tonight.
The Serb hit over 100 unforced errors in his match against Simon and he will no doubt tighten his game this evening against an opponent who is playing some great tennis.
Nishikori provided arguably the most convincing fourth round performance in the men’s draw, defeating No.10 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. The Japanese star moved exceptionally well around the court in that match and caused a lot of damage from the backhand wing.
At his best, Nishikori possesses one of the most solid double-handed backhand shots in the men’s game and it’s a weapon that has allowed him to evolve from a competitive player into a grand slam contender.
Indeed the strength of his backhand came to the fore in 2014, when he overpowered Djokovic en route to a US Open final appearance.
Although the ten-time grand slam champion has won recent meetings between the pair comfortably, Nishikori and Djokovic are tied at one win apiece at grand slam level, with the Japanese player winning their only match on hard courts.
Given his tremendous form and imposing record, however, Djokovic once again appears an unbeatable favourite with punters. Given his unconvincing performance against Simon, many expect the Serb to raise his game tonight in a bid to send a statement to the rest of his rivals.
For Nishikori to stand a chance this evening, he has to let rip from the backhand side. Djokovic will most likely come out aggressively so the Japanese star really has to back himself with his shot making to counter the No.1 seed.
Most importantly of all, Nishikori must be prepared to dig deep against his opponent. Djokovic invariably plays at his best from the quarter-final stage onwards and it will be interesting to see if Nishikori can keep pace with a player who has made a habit of outlasting every opponent on tour.
If Nishikori is willing to dig deep and back himself, the upset is certainly on the cards. Anything less and Djokovic will win.
Nishikori in five sets.