The Australian Open is about to end for one of last year’s revelations with defending champion Stan Wawrinka and Japan’s fifth seed Kei Nishikori squaring off.
The pair meet in a quarter-final on Wednesday with the winner earning a final four berth against either world No.1 Novak Djokovic or Canadian Milos Raonic.
Wawrinka shocked Rafael Nadal to clinch his maiden grand slam title at Melbourne Park last year while Nishikori is flying high after reaching the final of the US Open.
En-route to that match, the 25-year-old eliminated Wawrinka in a memorable quarter-final 3-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (7-5) 6-4 at Flushing Meadows.
Nishikori said he took confidence from that match that he could beat a top player and that he could do it in a high-stakes five-set encounter.
“For sure that gives me confidence,” he said.
“I beat him, you know, in the US Open. It’s not like I can’t beat him.”
Nishikori’s ranking has soared from 17 at last year’s Australian Open, when he was eliminated by Nadal in the fourth round, to a career-high five.
He said he felt better positioned for an assault at the title this time around.
“I’m trying to be patient always, but at the same time to go aggressive,” Nishikori said.
“I’ve been really comfortable playing like this as I started kind of last year.
“I feel like I can hit more with my forehand and I can go really aggressive.”
While Nishikori boasts one of the best forehands in the game, the same can be said for Wawrinka’s backhand.
The 29-year-old Swiss proved his Australian title was no fluke, also making the quarter-finals at Wimbledon as well as the US Open.
Wawrinka said Nishikori had improved notably in the last 12 months and he would have to play the game on his terms to get on top.
“He’s a great shot maker and he’s always taking the ball really early,” the Swiss said.
“If I can play heavy, if I can play my game, it’s tough for him to always take the ball early. We’ll see how I’m going to deal with that.”
HOW STAN WAWRINKA AND KEI NISHIKORI MATCH UP FOR THEIR AUSTRALIAN OPEN QUARTER-FINAL AT MELBOURNE PARK ON WEDNESDAY:
4-STAN WAWRINKA (SUI) leads 5-KEI NISHIKORI (JAP) 2-1
2014 US Open, hard, QF, Nishikori 3-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (7-5) 6-4
2012 Cincinnati, hard, R16, Wawrinka 6-3 6-3
2012 Buenos Aires, clay, QF, Wawrinka 6-4 6-2
STAN WAWRINKA (SUI)
Age: 29
Ranking: 4
Plays: Right-handed
Career prize money: $US14,399,798 ($A18.19 million)
Career singles titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2014)
Australian Open win-loss record: 27-8
Best Australian Open performance: champion 2014
KEI NISHIKORI (JAP)
Age: 25
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US8,023,569 ($A10.13 million)
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 16-5
Best Australian Open performance: quarter-finalist 2012, 2015
