Two future tennis stars renew their rivalry on the U.S. Open hard courts as fifth seed Milos Raonic takes on tenth seed Kei Nishikori in a round-of-16 clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium later tonight. The last time these two faced off, Raonic pulled off a tough four-set win in the fourth round of Wimbledon two months ago. Their paths have crossed once again in another Grand Slam tournament, this time at the Big Apple as both players will be desperate to notch their first ever U.S. Open quarterfinal appearance.
Can Raonic repeat his Wimbledon success over Nishikori? Or will the Japanese star finally get the better of the Canadian? Read on for a preview of this match and while you’re at it, please check out our other men’s round-of-16 preview between Briton Andy Murray and French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]
Kei Nishikori vs. Milos Raonic, 2014 U.S. Open Men’s Singles Round of 16 Match Preview
Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York
Kei Nishikori is in excellent form heading into his fourth-round clash with Raonic, with the Japanese star winning his first three matches at Flushing Meadows all in straight sets. He has dropped only 22 games so far this entire tournament as he easily disposed of the challenges of Wayne Odesnik, Pablo Andujar and Leonardo Mayer.
[sc:Other240banner ]In his third round clash with Mayer, Nishikori showed his class as he blasted 25 winners in a comfortable 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win in a match that lasted one hour and 52 minutes. That victory enabled Nishikori to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time in his career and he can go one further and book a quarterfinal spot with a victory over Raonic later tonight.
Nishikori leads the head-to-head matchup with Raonic 2-1. Although he lost their last encounter at Wimbledon last July, Nishikori emerged victorious in their only hard court meeting winning 7-6, 3-6, 6-0 in the final of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships back in 2012. That victory, coming in front of his home fans, will boost the confidence of Nishikori who is aiming to barge into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time in his career.
Milos Raonic is coming off a hard-earned 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) victory over unheralded Victor Estrella Burgos to set up his match with rival Ken Nishikori. It has been a shaky start to the tournament so far for Raonic who also had to endure a tough four-setter against Peter Gojowczyk in the second round.
Still, he will be heading into his fourth round match with Kei Nishikori with extreme confidence, especially with the way he outmatched the Japanese tennis star in their fourth round showdown at Wimbledon last July. The eighth-seeded Raonic came back from a set down to grab his first ever victory over Nishikori in three meetings, winning 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Raonic pulverized Nishikori with 34 aces as the Japanese ace simply had no answer for the Canadian’s booming serve.
Raonic then went on to reach the Wimbledon semifinals where he eventually lost to tennis great Roger Federer. That performance however will serve the 23-year-old in good stead ahead of his match against Nishikori as he bids to enter his second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal and his first here in the U.S. Open.
Writer’s Prediction
Raonic’s (-130) serve will be too much for Nishikori as he will book a place in the quarterfinals for the first time in the U.S. Open.
