Can Kei Nishikori get a set? Can Nishikori get more than two games in a set? The omens aren’t good for the young Japanese player as he heads into a quarter-final meeting with Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal $1.02 vs Kei Nishikori $13.00 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Rafael Nadal $1.02 vs Kei Nishikori $13.00 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Rafael Nadal vs Kei Nishikori Odds Comparison
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Rafael Nadal | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.03 |
| Kei Nishikori | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 12.00 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Our Tip: Rafael Nadal to win in straight sets.
Preview:
‘Special K’ has been having a great tournament so far. Now partly coached by legend Michael Chang, the sixteenth seed has backed up a strong showing at the Brisbane International – reaching the semi-finals – with a third appearance in the round of sixteen at the Australian Open. In 2012, in fact, he went one better, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the quarter-finals before losing to Andy Murray.
But he’s unlikely to repeat that feat this year, for one simple reason: Rafael Nadal. The world no. 1 has looked in utterly imperious form so far; while Bernard Tomic retired after one set in the first round, Nadal’s victories over Thanasi Kokkinakis and Gael Monfils have come at a cost of just 16 games. Trouncing an Australian teenager is one thing; a demolition of Monfils, a supremely talented player who pushed Nadal to a third set in the Qatar Open finals a couple of weeks ago, is quite another.
Nothing about Nadal appears particularly vulnerable or attackable in Melbourne so far. He’s served above 70% in both completed matches so far, hit 60 winners for 37 unforced errors and has yet to have his serve broken.
On that form, it’s going to take something truly special to stop him and despite Nishikori’s undeniable talent, the history between these two doesn’t suggest that the Japanese player will be the one to come up with it. Nishikori and Nadal have played five times and five times the win has gone to Nadal. On clay, on hard courts, on grass, Nishikori hasn’t taken a set from Nadal since their first meeting at Queens in 2008. He hasn’t taken more than four games in a set since then, either.
Despite the record, Nishikori has been positive about the match. ‘He’s obviously playing really well, especially here,’ he said of Nadal. ‘I haven’t beaten him yet, so hopefully I can play good against him. But I’m playing well. Really confident and my body is good. Everything is working well. If I can play my best tennis, I think I have some chance to win.’
In his third-round match, Nishikori trailed Donald Young of the USA 2-5 in the first set before winning 17 of the last 18 games to prevail 7-5, 6-1, 6-0. That was quite a drastic turnaround. It’s very difficult to see how Nishikori, for all his excellent movement, can reverse his fortunes against Nadal in the same way.
Nadal and Nishikori are scheduled third on Rod Laver Arena at 2am (3am GMT)
Source: www.livetennis.com
