It wasn’t a vintage performance from Novak Djokovic, but it was an improvement on his struggle against Simon. Kei Nishikori’s woeful tennis in the first two sets, followed by his inconsistency on his serve in the third set, made it easier for him, mind you, and Djokovic will need to be better when he faces Roger Federer for a place in the final on Thursday. He probably will be better. He’s had his rest and he’s won his past three grand slam matches against Federer. I’ll see you then! Thanks for reading. Bye.
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Novak Djokovic speaks. “First of all, happy Australia Day eveybody. Thank you for choosing to come to tennis on this important day for Australia. I know Kei very well. I lost to him in the US Open. He plays very aggressive tennis and I just needed to weather the storm.
He reveals that he didn’t train yesterday, instead choosing to rest after his gruelling match with Gilles Simon on Sunday. “I didn’t hit a tennis ball. It happens sometmes, it’s good to rest your mind and rest your body. Sometimes less is more. It’s a reset button. I played a lot of tennis in the last few weeks.”
And what about playing Roger Federer? “I’ve played Roger 44 times and Rafa 45, so it feels like half of my career matches are against these two guys. It’s always a great challenge. Roger, you don’t need to spend words on what he’s achieved. It’s going to be a great match.”
Jim Courier ends with a question about whether Djokovic’s young son recognises his father when he watches his matches on television. “He screams ‘Mama’ when he sees me on TV! I think it’s cute.”
Novak Djokovic beats Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2, 6-4!
Serving for the match, Djokovic begins sharply, a strong forehand forcing Nishikori to hit long for 15-0, before a backhand down the line coaxes another error. A big ace down the middle brings up three match points, though he can’t take the first, a lob drifting wide, or the second, a forehand flying into the net. Yet Djokovic isn’t going to be denied and he comes out on top in a tense rally, ending the debate with a moment of brilliance, a rasping backhand from left to right that’s too much for Nishikori to handle.
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Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-4 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori bangs down his ninth ace of the match to hold to 30 and salvage a modicum of dignity. Djokovic will have to serve it out.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-2, 5-3 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to 15. Normal service has been restored, it seems. He’s a game away from a date with Roger Federer.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 4-3 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori appears to be in control at 40-15, but it’s not long before he finds himself staring at a break point. He has to dig dip here. He does, an ace getting him out of trouble. Djokovic then loses the next point, setting Nishikori up for a backhand down the line with a soft forehand, and he punishes himself by eating a bit of his shirt. Then he punishes Nishikori, breaking when the man from Japan sends another backhand long. That should be enough for Djokovic.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-2, 3-3 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic reminds himself what it’s like to hold serve. He does so to 15, guiding a backhand out of reach, and any hope Nishikori had of forcing a fourth set is in danger of evaporating.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 2-3 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Djokovic stood perfectly still for a few moments after losing the previous game, his hands on his hips, a dark cloud over his head. Yet this set is becoming very peculiar indeed. Nishikori fails to consolidate again, dropping his serve without so much as hinting that he might get close to winning a point on it, and breaks are becoming tediously routine. This is one weird match. It’s very hard to stay engaged with it.
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Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-2, 1-3 Nishikori (*denotes server): But Nishikori’s not done yet, racing into a 0-30 lead, then earning three break points with a huge forehand. He’s going for broke now – and indeed he does break again, angrily crunching a forehand return past a statuesque Djokovic.
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Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 1-2 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori has to hold here. Yet he’s playing some brainless tennis. At 15-all, he picks a bad moment to try a drop shot and an even worse moment to drill a forehand long to make it 15-30. Soon Djokovic has two break points – and Nishikori nets a forehand. That didn’t last long. He’s back to looking glum. Djokovic breaks straight back.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-2, 0-2 Nishikori (*denotes server): You know, while Nishikori’s been poor, his performance is slightly masking an off-colour display from Djokovic, who’s not been great. He’ll certainly have to be better than this against Federer on Thursday. At 30-15, he splutters a drop volley into the net – barely – and Nishikori then rattles a backhand down the line to earn a break point. Djokovic saves it with a clever serve down the middle, but Nishikori gets another chance – and he finally takes it, an unbalanced Djokovic netting a forehand! Nishikori breaks at last. “Come on!” he roars.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 0-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori begins the third set with a double-fault. Another one makes it 15-30. The Eurosport commentators are wondering if something’s up with Nishikori’s wrist, which was bothering him at the start of the tournament, and a wide forehand gives Djokovic a break point. He can’t take it, however, dragging a forehand wide, and Nishikori holds with an ace out wide.
Nishikori is back. He looks glum.
Nishikori is taking a medical time-out. He’s been off court for a while. Maybe they’re sorting out his forehand.
Novak Djokovic wins the second set 6-2; he leads 6-3, 6-2
Just when it looks like Nishikori thinks that the baseline is only there for decorative purposes, suddenly he tears a forehand down the line to earn an unlikely break point. Djokovic is unimpressed, though, swiping a forehand away to make it deuce. Djokovic gives up another break point with an errant backhand, but Nishikori lets him off the hook, banging a forehand long off a fairly tame second serve. Nishikori gets a third chance, yet Djokovic survives again, before earning a set point with a stunning piece of defensive work, turning defence into attack with a stinging backhand down the line. Nishikori is out of answers. Djokovic serves strongly out wide and a stretching Nishikori deflects his return way long. The second set is over. The match is more or less over as a contest.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 5-2 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori keeps his head above water. For now.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 5-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to love and Nishikori is beginning to feel sorry for himself, which is fatal against this force of nature.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 4-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori is playing like a drain. He’s playing like me. Or you. A horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE smash that’s sent miles past the baseline makes it 0-30. He gets it back to 15-30, but Djokovic grabs two break points in absurd fashion – first he hoicks back a Nishikori forehand, then he reaches a smash that’s clipped the top of the net and dropped shot, dabbing it back over the net and then jabbing a backhand volley past a despondent Nishikori, who tried to beat him with a forehand down the line. This is ominous. He’s on his way, Roger.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 3-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Now then, will Djokovic be feeling the pressure after failing to break at 0-40? Nope.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 2-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori has to hold here, because even his most ardent supporters wouldn’t be backing him to come back from two breaks down against Djokovic. The problem for Nishikori is that he looks so edgy at the moment. He’s making so many errors. Djokovic only has to get the ball over the net and wait for the inevitable mistake. Nishikori’s forehand has completely broken down, especially when he tries to hit it down the line. Three dismal efforts fly long and Djokovic has three break points. These are effectively match points and it’s about time Nishikori wakes up. He breathes a sigh of relief as Djokovic imitates him a long backhand he saves the second break point with an ace and the third with an accurate volley. Nishikori somehow holds. If he wins this match, he’s going to look back at this game with a great deal of fondness.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 2-0 Nishikori (*denotes server): The intensity inside Rod Laver Arena is fading. The atmosphere is flat. Djokovic is cruising. Or is he? Suddenly, out of nowhere, Nishikori wakes up, earning his first break point with a glorious flicked backhand pass after Djokovic duffed an easy smash. Yet he’s wasteful, running round a forehand and sending it well wide. The game goes to deuce, yet Djokovic is struggling to pull clear, a double-fault handing Nishikori a second break point. He responds with an ace. Of course he does. He holds. Of course he holds.
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Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 1-0 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori is in serious trouble. He’s sinking fast here, three desperate groundstrokes handing Djokovic two break points at the start of the second set. He only needs one, Nishikori dragging a dreadful forehand wide. He’s falling apart.
Novak Djokovic wins the first set 6-3!
Djokovic uncharacteristically allows his concentration to waver at the start of this game, beginning with a rare double-fault to make it 0-15, before he limply nets a backhand down the line for 0-30. Nishikori’s eyes widen. Djokovic isn’t happy with himself. Yet a Nishikori error makes it 15-30 and Djokovic hauls himself to 30-all with an ace, before earning a set point when Nishikori wafts a forehand long, attempting too much from the back of the court. Djokovic only needs a glimpse. Though it’s more a case of Nishikori doing his work for him. The seventh seed has unravelled since that horrible game where he lost his serve, his confidence drained and the errors piling up, and another long forehand hands Djokovic the set. Nishikori challenges, but the sight of Djokovic walking back to his chair before HawkEye even cranks into action tells us all we need to know.
First set: Djokovic 5-3 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the first set, Nishikori starts well, chopping a backhand volley out of reach for 15-0. A forehand volley makes it 40-0 and he holds to love. If he only he could have done that in his previous service game. Now he’s going to have to break. He’s not had a break point yet.
First set: Djokovic* 5-2 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to love to consolidate the break. He’s won nine straight points. Nishikori hasn’t won one since he led 40-0 in the previous game. Life was so much better back then.
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First set: Djokovic 4-2 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Another pearler of a backhand from Nishikori opens up the court for him to win the first point with a drive volley, Djokovic stranded out on the left, way past the baseline. He appears to have the game locked down at 40-0, only for three slack shots to let Djokovic back in at deuce. A drop shot into the net at 40-15 was a particularly poor choice and Nishikori finds himself in trouble when Djokovic pummels a forehand return on to the baseline, drawing the error, earning the first break point. Nishikori’s shoulders visibly slump. He throws his arm in the air in disbelief at the depth of Djokovic’s return. It’s not a good sign. He misses a first serve. His second heads off in the direction of Sydney. That’s a double-fault! That’s a break! Nishikori was 40-0 up. You can’t give anything away against Novak Djokovic.
First set: Djokovic* 3-2 Nishikori (*denotes server): Nishikori find a lovely angle with a backhand from left to right, rapping it at Djokovic, and the world No1 can only knock his riposte long for 0-15. Yet Djokovic wins the next three points and he holds to 15, lashing a forehand away at the net. Who’s going to blink first in this gripping staring contest?
First set: Djokovic 2-2 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori sends an ace whooshing past Djokovic’s lugs for 15-0 and it looks like it’s going to be a straightforward hold at 30-0, only for two attempted backhand winners to flash wide, and 30-0 becomes 30-all. Nishikori has a chance to close it out at 40-30, but the game goes to deuce when he nets a forehand. Yet he makes sure there’s no chance of any drama, clean hitting, especially on the forehand side, sealing the game.
First set: Djokovic* 2-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): A stress-free hold to love for Djokovic. This is tight.
First set: Djokovic 1-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): That backhand down the line from Nishikori is a sight to behold. Commentating on Eurosport, the excellent Mats Wilander wonders if it’s the best shot in the game. It’s up there! And so’s this. After moving into a 30-0 lead with one of those backhand winners, a gorgeous, feathery drop shot makes it 40-0 and Nishikori holds to love.
First set: Djokovic* 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes server): Let’s play. It’s Novak Djokovic to serve first and he makes a confident start, pinging an ace down the middle for 15-0, but Nishikori hits back immediately, walloping a stunning backhand down the line for 15-all. The game goes to 30-all and Djokovic looks slightly nervy, but some solid serving helps him hold to 30, Nishikori unable to get over a couple of awkward second serves.
Kei Nishikori wins the toss. He elects to receive first. Time for them to knock up.
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The players have emerged for the Uniqlo derby. The Uniqlasico. Nishikori is out first and Djokovic isn’t far behind. They both get a huge ovation.
The 2014 US Open semi-final is on everyone’s mind, and anything is possible for Nishikori if he finds that level again, but Djokovic has won their past four meetings, a run that includes two emphatic victories at the ATP World Tour Finals, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory in the Rome Masters last year and a 6-2, 6-3 win in the Paris Masters in 2014. History is on his side. He leads the head-to-head 5-2. But is there a Wawrinka vibe about Nishikori? Is he the next champion to emerge? Remember, it’s two years since Wawrinka went on to win his first grand slam after beating Djokovic at this stage.
The winner of this faces none other than Roger Federer, who swept past Tomas Berdych in straight sets earlier. Federer is planning to watch this one. “I think I’ll find some time for that,” he said. “As a fan, it’s a great match.”
Preamble
Hello. Novak Djokovic comes into this Australian Open quarter-final a little shaken, a little stirred, and just about standing after his scare against Gilles Simon on Sunday. He’s swaying. He’s wobbling. He’s teetering. Or is he? Is it all just a ruse? Mind games. Is he playing with us?
We’ll have a better idea in a couple of hours. All we know for now is that Djokovic has offered a glimmer of hope to the rest of the draw after showing rare signs of vulnerability in his scratchy, gasping win over Simon, who pushed the world No1 harder than anyone has in a long time over five topsy-turvy sets, perhaps not since Stan Wawrinka blew the Serb away in the French Open final last year.
Djokovic, usually so measured on court, made a century of errors. Now that’s weird. That’s worth our attention - and the evidence against him grows even stronger when his unconvincing performance against Andrea Seppi in the third round is taken into account.
Kei Nishikori will be aware of all of the above. The seventh seed was imperious in his straight sets dismissal of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, gaining revenge over the powerful Frenchman after losing to him in last year’s French Open, and while he is undoubtedly the underdog here, Nishikori will be boosted by the unforgettable memory of outclassing Djokovic in their US Open semi-final in 2014. The Japanese star is a potential champion in the making, a player with a huge chance of breaking into the elite, and he was excellent that day, though he was outgunned by Marin Cilic in the final. He has not been quite been able to hit those heights since, but one of the finest, cleverest, most inventive shotmakers around is a threat to Djokovic’s ambitions of winning a sixth Australian Open title. If Djokovic is struggling with an injury, Nishikori could be in business. If Djokovic plays like he did against Simon, Nishikori could be in business. If Nishikori plays like he did in New York, he’s in business. And if the match against Simon was the fright Djokovic needed, a timely kick up the backside, Nishikori is going to have his work cut out. It’s fascinatingly poised.
Play begins: not before 7.15pm in Melbourne and 8.15am GMT.
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