2018 ATP US Open QF: [7] M. Cilic vs. [21] K. Nishikori

[Athique Rehman]

Kei makes Rafa serve look world class

 

[abmk]

Cilic with a BH DTL winner.
DF from Nishi on next point.
15-30

 

[Deleted member 77403]

True. Cilic will be the bigger test as well and if Novak plays him and gets through that, it will toughen him up for the final.

Exactly. While not looking past the Milkman, the hypothetical Djokovic v Cilic match is just what Djokovic would need. He hasn't even been in top gear here, partly because he hasn't had to, but Cilic will make him play and force him to bring a better level. This is what will make him somewhat battle hardened.

 

[Hamnavoe]

Cilic with the break

 

[abmk]

nishi saves 1 BP, but misses fh in long rally on the 2nd.
4-2 Cilic.

 

[Athique Rehman]

Kei won a point going for a slice. SEE KEI. WAKE UP YOU CLOWN

 

[TennisFan3]

Kei makes Rafa serve look world class

Haha. Kei is returning awful. But Cilic is serving well too.

Nishikori looking to break back with a 0-40 opening. I sense this match turning.

Kei breaks. Game on.

 

[Sysyphus]

Kei breaks bacc, and finally there's a hint of positive body language.

Let's go!

 

[Athique Rehman]

Kei wins the game and breaks back. 2 SLICES = 2 errors from Cilic. Its not hard to realise that big hitters hate slices. I dont understand why Kei has taken this long to realise

 

[NoleFam]

Exactly. While not looking past the Milkman, the hypothetical Djokovic v Cilic match is just what Djokovic would need. He hasn't even been in top gear here, partly because he hasn't had to, but Cilic will make him play and force him to bring a better level. This is what will make him somewhat battle hardened.

Milkman hits a heavy ball so Novak better be ready but I think he will be. Yea Cilic toughened him up in Cincinnati, as well as Raonic, and he played better in the final. You need at least one tough match before the big day so you are already familiar with digging deep when you have to.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Nishikori breaks back...we have a match.

 

[Red Rick]

If there was ever a time to scream haiku's, it is now @Sysyphus
Could also write sudoku's in the blood of his enemies

 

[Texas]

American kids in the crowd not shutting up - giving Kei fuel since 2018

 

[abmk]

Have you seen the H2h of Novak vs Cillic? It is 15-2. And the only time Cillic won was on Queens and Paris which are fast surfaces. In Queens 2018 Djoko was not fully back and in 2016 Paris he was tired after a long season. Every other match, Djoko thrashed Cillic.

Basically Novak is a terrible matchup for Cillic. His ROS negates the serve and the change in direction plus defense makes Cillic spray errors. Cillic is also a BIG Choker in tough moments. Hell, Delpo would be do far better than Cillic, since he has far better mental strength.

Finally it would be much cooler in the SF based on the forecast. So the heat factor is negated.
I really don't see how that match will be competitive unless Novak gets injured or has a crazy off day.

Also don't put stock on Djoko's initial rounds at the Open. He himself said he was adjusting and now he's playing better.
He might win this tournament henceforth, without losing a set. That is how good he is playing.

Djoko was playing well in Queens. Cilic beat him there.
djoko didn't thrash him in every other match.
Even in USO 08, when Cilic was young, they went 4 sets.
even in RG 14 on clay, Cilic took a set.
Wim 14 went 5 sets, with Cilic being up 2 sets to 1.
only blowout in a slam meeting was USO 15 when Cilic was injured.

Djoko is a tough matchup for Cilic no doubt, which means its tough for Cilic to win. But he sure as hell can be competitive.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Milkman hits a heavy ball so Novak better be ready but I think he will be. Yea Cilic toughened him up in Cincinnati, as well as Raonic, and he played better in the final. You need at least one tough match before the big day so you are already familiar with digging deep when you have to.

Djokovic will be super ready for the Aussie, he knows what happened to Federer. He will make that doesn't happen again. I expect a very ruthless Novak stepping onto the court tonight in NYC.

 

[Sysyphus]

If there was ever a time to scream haiku's, it is now @Sysyphus
Could also write sudoku's in the blood of his enemies

KEI WILL MAKE SASHIMI OF HIS LIVER




METAPHORICALLY

 

[NoleFam]

Djokovic will be super ready for the Aussie, he knows what happened to Federer. He will make that doesn't happen again. I expect a very ruthless Novak stepping onto the court tonight in NYC.

That's what I hope to see tonight.

 

[Enceladus]

Cilic-Nishikori 6:2, 4:4
Nishikori, after losing the service, returned to the game by the second set, it's super!

 

[TennisFan3]

Djokovic will be super ready for the Aussie, he knows what happened to Federer. He will make that doesn't happen again. I expect a very ruthless Novak stepping onto the court tonight in NYC.

I personally think that Novak fears Fed more than he does Rafa (to the extent he fears anyone at all).
Since Fed lost, he must be very relaxed, and in his mind, feel that he has a great chance to win another UsOpen. So he should be confident for sure.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

That's what I hope to see tonight.

There will be a lot of Millman fans tonight, who will also be praying very hard...

 

[Red Rick]

KEI WILL MAKE SASHIMI OF HIS LIVER




METAPHORICALLY

One thing more deadly than an on fire Cilic is an off fire Cilic to himself

Ninja induced Harakiri

 

[TennisFan3]

Kei breaks. The match is turning. Cilic is unraveling with the UFEs.
He will serve for the set 5-4.

 

[Red Rick]

ROFLMAO at the thought of Cilic troubling Djokovic.

 

[mike danny]

Chokic to the rescue.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I personally think that Novak fears Fed more than he does Rafa (to the extent he fears anyone at all).
Since Fed lost, he must be very relaxed, and in his mind, feel that he has a great chance to win another UsOpen. So he should be confident for sure.

He has a good shot at the title for sure. The only thing is that he may come in undercooked if he cruises and does not come out of second gear.

And Cilic crumbling...

 

[Nadal_Django]

WTF just happened!?

 

[Enceladus]

Cilic-Nishikori 6:2, 4:5
Wow, Cilic donated DF Nishikori break! This is an unexpected turn!

 

[NoleFam]

There will be a lot of Millman fans tonight, who will also be praying very hard...

I think you mean there will be a lot of Nadal fans praying tonight.

 

[skyline]

Wow, what a donation from Cilic. Kei appreciates it!

Like, really, Kei ain't hurting him. He's hurting himself. All around.

 

[gn]

Going gets tough. Cilic DFs on breakpoint. Kei 5-4

 

[tennis4me]

Kei finally wakes up. Let's see if he can close the set.

 

[Erlang]

Federer's early exit made tickets affordable

I am watching this at Ashe now

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I think you mean there will be a lot of Nadal fans praying tonight.

Millman fans. Millman.

 

[TennisFan3]

Cilic-Nishikori 6:2, 4:5
Wow, Cilic daroval DF Nishikori break! This is an unexpected turn!!

That is why I said that Cilic is a choke artist and why he wouldn't trouble Djoko. Cilic doesn't even have the mental strength of a Delpo, forget about the big 3.
If Kei, keeps up the level and uses his brain, I expect him to win.

 

[NoleFam]

That is why I said that Cilic is a choke artist and why he wouldn't trouble Djoko. Cilic doesn't even have the mental strength of a Delpo, forget about the big 3.
If Kei, keeps up the level and uses his brain, I expect him to win.

Cilic has actually troubled Djokovic the last 3 times they have played. It's not the same player Djokovic used to beat everytime.

 

[gn]

Kei takes the 2nd set. 6-4

 

[NuBas]

Kei is so strange sometimes, looks like he doesn't even wanna play then he does that second set.

 

[Sysyphus]

Kei takes the set!!!

But why you so restrained, man? Gotta jump around, do some karate kicks in the air and scream in the guy's face, maybe kick his bottles and spit on his chair — show him you're here to fight.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

And there you have it...

 

[abmk]

Cilic's streak of inconsistency showing there.

 

[tennis4me]

Kei is so strange sometimes, looks like he doesn't even wanna play then he does that second set.

Yeah, he's not the hard fist-pumping guy, but it might do him good to pump himself up like what other players do.

 

[Nadal_Django]

Cilic the humanitarian.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Big yellow tennis balls.

 

[NuBas]

Yeah, he's not the hard fist-pumping guy, but it might do him good to pump himself up like what other players do.

I have seen him very positive sometimes but then days like this first set, I have no clue where he goes mentally. Its almost as bad as Kyrgios, Kei makes gestures that looks like he doesn't wanna play. Reason why I like Naomi Osaka is she is always so positive and cool.

If Kei really wants to win majors he's gotta get rid of that.

 

[Sysyphus]

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Nice long match with the winner just a little more softened up for whoever wins tonight's quarter final fight.

 

[Steve0904]

What a return by Nishi.

 

[NoleFam]

Well this match has turned. Cilic was looking to go to a 2 set lead and now just spraying everything.

 

[NoleFam]

Nice long match with the winner just a little more softened up for whoever wins tonight's quarter final fight.

You are always thinking ahead. Lol.

 

[Steve0904]

Replace Cilic with Thiem. Even more accurate.