Roger Federer has kept his dreams of an 18th grand slam title alive, progressing to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a five-set win over Kei Nishikori.
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Final score
Roger Federer 6 6 6 4 6
Kei Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3
A rejuvenated Roger Federer will be out to book a spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals when he takes on Japanese superstar and fifth seed Kei Nishikori in what promises to be a cracker. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7pm (AEDT).
Federer hadn’t been sighted since Wimbledon last year, with injuries ruining the end of his 2016 season. He has come back to his best in quick time this year, with the veteran racing through to the fourth round.
After starting out at the Hopman Cup and being his usual dominant self, he has only dropped a single set at the Open and that came as a massive shock.
During the first round against Jurgen Melzer, Federer dropped the second set but it seemed he was just shaking off some rust because in the eight sets he has played since then it has been nothing but dominance all over the court.
His win against Thomas Berdych on Friday night was absolutely scintillating with Federer winning in every area of the court, playing fantastic defence and being a picture of consistency across the straight-sets demolition.
Nishikori, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the most thorough players on the tour, his defence and patience being second only to the top two in the world.
The one area Nishikori does lack is power, and it could come back to haunt him as it did in the final of the Brisbane International against Grigor Dimitrov where the Japanese star started his season.
Federer’s backhand was on fire against Berdych, and it seems the only way Nishikori will stay in it when that goes off is to fight fire with fire, and ride out the important phases of the match.
Nishikori himself will pose threats and ever since a scare in the first round when he was taken to five sets by Andrey Kuznetsov, he has been dominant in disposing of Jeremy Chardy and Lukas Lacko in straight sets.
The pair have had six previous matches, with Federer controlling the ledger 4-2. That includes all of their last three meetings for the Fed Express, who has beaten Nishikori twice on the hard court in the last three years at the ATP Tour finals.
Nishikori’s two victories came in 2013 and 2014, at Madrid on clay and Miami on the hard court respectively, but the pair haven’t played since the end of 2015.
The winner will go on to the quarter-finals and book a meeting with either the world No.1 Andy Murray or Mischa Zverev.
Prediction
This match promises to be an absolute cracker. Federer is working his way into some good form though, and with all the experience in the world should be able to come through with a victory in what could be one of the matches of the tournament.
Federer in five sets
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this mouth-watering match from 7pm (AEDT) on Rod Laver Arena and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Andy
Guest
I was a little dissapointed with Nishikoris net game, he seemed to choke more often than not when he was forced to the net which i found surprising considering how fast he is.
clipper
Guest
Apparently the oldest QF GS appearance since Connors.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That I did! Thought it was going to go to five James, and thought if it got there Federer's class and power would shine through. 49 is nuts. Would love to see another Fed v Nadal final.
jamesb
Guest
Got the prediction right Scottie. Federer will make his 49th QF appearance. What a ridiculous number of appearances that is. With Murray and Novak gone, he does have a great chance.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for live coverage of the 2017 Australian Open as Roger Federer got the better of Kei Nishikori in five sets. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Our coverage will continue from 7pm (AEDT) tomorrow as Riley Pettigrew brings you Daria Gavrilova vs Karolina Pliskova, and I'll have Rafael Nadal vs Gael Monfils straight after that one. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Statistics Aces: Federer (24), Nishikori (5) Double faults: Federer (6), Nishikori (5) First serves in: Federer (100/148), Nishikori (107/164) Points won on first serve: Federer (80/100), Nishikori (73/107) Points won on second serve: Federer (23/48), Nishikori (24/57) Net points won: Federer (29/44), Nishikori (19/30) Break points won: Federer (7/18), Nishikori (3/10) Receiving points won: Federer (67/164), Nishikori (45/148) Winners: Federer (83), Nishikori (42) Unforced errors: Federer (47), Nishikori (32) Total points won: Federer (170), Nishikori (142)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Results Roger Federer has put on his best display so far in 2017 to take victory in the fourth round of the Australian Open in five sets over Kei Nishikori on Rod Laver Arena. The Japanese fifth seed came firing out of the gates, quickly going up a double break in the first set with Federer struggling to find his rhythm. The wheels would quickly fall off for Nishikori though, as Federer came back to level the first set, before going ahead 6-5. Nishikori then held serve before taking the tie-breaker. Nishikori was blown off the court during the next two sets though, with Federer flying through and, if including the first set winning 17 games to seven, going on a massive run. The fourth set saw some long service games, with Federer unable to hang on, going down a break and losing it 6-4, but he was back to his best in the final, taking it 6-3 and never looking pressured after he got the break off Nishikori in his opening service game. Federer will now go on to play Mischa Zverev who surprised Andy Murray earlier in the day. Roger Federer 6 6 6 4 6 Kei Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH ROGER FEDERER Federer does it! He is through to the quarter-finals and finishes it with a massive forehand and an emphatic overhead smash through the court. It wasn't easy, but after 3 hours and 23 minutes Federer is through to face Mischa Zverev in the last eight. Roger Federer 6 6 6 4 6 Kei Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer now with a fault. Would have been an ace and he has challenged the call. Was in! ACE! Three match points. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 40 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve this time from Federer. Had good pace behind it and Nishikori got the racquet there, but couldn't return. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 30 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer starts with a fault, then goes for the wide kicking serve that Nishikori can't get over and sends long. No footwork there. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 15 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer to serve for the match now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nishikori holds serve after a long rally with Federer slicing a ball into the net. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - Nishikori 7 4 1 6 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer runs around a wide serve, turning it into a forehand and it goes long. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 15 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve and Federer blocks the return before coming forward, Nishikori sharpening the angle too much and sending a backhand out. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 15 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lovely reflexes at the net now from Nishikori on the serve and volley Got it into the corner and then played it off his body into the open court. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 0 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Nishikori serves wide. Slow and spinning that. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - 0 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
And another wide serve that Nishikori can't return! Federer is just one game away from the final eight of the 2017 Australian Open. Federer 6 6 6 4 5 - Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer goes down the middle and Nishikori can't return. Federer 6 6 6 4 4 - 40 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault now from Federer before Nishikori misreads a shot and doesn't keep his forehand in the court. Puts it wide and that's a bad unforced error at 15-15. Federer 6 6 6 4 4 - 30 Nishikori 7 4 1 6 2 - 15